| School District Of Westfield |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2431 - CO-CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION/CODE
Co-curricular activities are defined to be all activities, which are not graded courses offered in the curriculum. All students participating in co-curricular competition of any kind must sign the co-curricular code.
All students (grade 7-12) participating in co-curricular activities shall be required to maintain a minimum 1.67 grade point average at the end of each quarter/semester and have no semester failing grades in order to take part in any co-curricular activities.
A quarter or semester grade point average of less than a 1.67 or one (1) semester "F" grade will prevent a high school and middle school student from co-curricular participation from the day of release of grades (which is three (3) business days after the end of the grading period) plus the next four (4) full calendar weeks of co-curricular activities.
Fourth quarter and second semester grades will be used to determine eligibility for fall student activities.
Entering students (grades 7th and 9th) are eligible for all co-curricular activities during their first quarter attendance at the middle school and high school.
"E" grades will not be used in determining a student's eligibility status for co-curricular participation.
WIAA standards allow no semester failing grades and no more than one (1) failing quarter grade.
A student, in order to regain eligibility to participate in co-curricular, will be allowed summer enrollment and/or completion of an approved correspondence course as a means of clearing a semester "F" grade into a passing grade.
Students who are ineligible will be able to practice, but will not be able to suit up for the games.
Students will not miss class time for travel to athletic contests if ineligible.
Every student will receive a handbook that includes the above policy.
Prohibited Conduct and Penalty for Violation
In order to set good examples of strong character and self-discipline, all students participating in co-curricular activities will conform to the following code:
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A. |
A student shall not possess, use, sell or distribute any non-authorized drug or controlled substance (Wis. Stat Section Chapter 961). |
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A student shall not possess, use, sell or distribute any tobacco product (Wis. Stat Section 134.66). |
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A student shall no use, sell, or distribute any performance enhancing drug as currently defined by the WIAA. |
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D. |
A student shall not possess, use, sell or distribute any alcoholic beverages. A student may consume an alcoholic beverage when consumption is a tenant of their religion and an integral and necessary part of a religious activity (Wis. Stat Section 125.05). |
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E. |
A student shall not attend a party where alcohol beverages, unauthorized drugs or controlled substances are made available and/or accessible to or used by minors and/or students of the School District of Westfield. |
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F. |
A student shall not engage in any hazing activity. Hazing is defined as any activity expected of, or done to, someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. |
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G. |
A student shall not engage in any criminal activity and/or damage the property of any person or organization. |
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H. |
Honesty Clause: |
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The student shall be truthful. |
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2. |
The student shall be forthcoming with information. |
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3. |
The student shall not be deceptive or untruthful. |
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4. |
The student shall be cooperative. |
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5. |
In responding to any questioning about his/her personal actions, it is expected that the student shall answer truthfully. |
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The principal, Athletic Director or District Administrator will reduce the penalty by fifty percent (50%) for being truthful. |
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The penalty for violating the code shall be a suspension from the sport/activity as set forth below. The suspension will begin when notification of the violation is made to the parent/guardian of said student. Any student engaged in serious criminal activity, any act of criminal violence, or reporting to an activity/practice under the influence of alcohol or non-authorized drugs will be penalized as a third offense. Interscholastic scrimmages will not count towards serving co-curricular code violations. The calculation for suspension will be made based on the total number of varsity season activity contests. Middle school sports/activities will use their own schedules.
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A. |
First Offense - the student will be suspended for twenty percent (20%) of the total contests, rounded to the nearest whole number, in the student's sport/activity. |
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If a co-curricular participant receives a violation due to drug-related issues, the participant will be required to successfully complete an education course set by the District Administrator. Participation in the course may indicate a need for alcohol/drug assessment. If an assessment is required or treatment is recommended, it is the financial responsibility of the parents/guardians to provide for that treatment. Athletes have a proven risk of injury after use of illegal chemical, athletes will be required to provide evidence of a clean drug test prior to any further participation in contests - this too shall be the financial responsibility of the parents/guardians. |
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B. |
Second Offense - the student will be suspended for fifty percent (50%) of the total contests, rounded to the nearest whole number, in the student's sport/activity. |
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Third Offense - the student will be suspended for 365 consecutive days from any school sport/activity. |
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D. |
Suspension Carryover - Example if a student is found to be in violation of the code with one (1) football game remaining, and must serve a twenty percent (20%) suspension, it would be calculated as follows: There are nine (9) games, and the student misses one (1), which would equal 11.11%. The student would then be suspended for 8.89% of the next season he participates in. If that season is basketball, which is twenty-two (22) games, the student would be suspended for two (2) games. If the next sport was wrestling, which is fourteen (14) contests, the student would be suspended for two (2) contests. |
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In order to receive season ending awards (i.e. letters, captain pins, MVP, MIP plaques etc.), the student must finish the season/activity in good standing. Good standing is defined as all suspensions/penalties have been served in full.
The above suspensions are to be invoked during the designated seasons or activity time in which the student has, in the past, or clearly intends to participate. This code is in effect for twelve (12) months of the year.
The above suspensions are cumulative throughout the student's high school career.
Discipline of Participants for Other Misconduct
Other misconduct by participants may result in contest suspension or other penalties as imposed by the advisor, coach, Athletic Director or principal. Examples of other misconduct may include (but are not limited to the following): sexting, truancy, cheating, failure to maintain training hours, skipping practice, abuse of equipment, negative student account balances or other conduct unbecoming a student of the School District of Westfield.
No food service account shall maintain a negative account balance for more than thirty (30) days concurrently. Any unintended negative balance will need to be addressed immediately if not paid in full. Administrative action shall take place (up to suspension of all co-curricular activities and/or withholding of diploma.
Serious violations and consequences will be reported to the Athletic Director or principal for parental notification. All recommendations for removal from the activity will be reviewed by and imposed by the Athletic Director.
If the student is serving an out of school suspension or is expelled from school, the student cannot participate in any of the sport/activity during the time the student is suspended or expelled.
Changing or Dropping Sports/Activities
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A. |
Freshman or sophomore students may change from one sport/activity to another during the sport/activities season with agreement of both coaches/advisors or by serving a two (2) week waiting period before the change is allowed. Juniors and seniors who have earned letters in a sport may not change sports during the sport season. |
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Athletes will be allowed to change sports from one season to the next without any penalty or approval. |
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B. |
No student who is dropped from one sport/activity for disciplinary reasons shall be eligible to compete in another sport/activity for that particular season. |
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Guidelines for Determining Violations of the Code
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A. |
When making a determination if there has been a violation of the code, the principal, assistant principal or dean of students may use any credible evidence provided by law enforcement and/or School District of Westfield employees providing it is within ninety (90) calendar days of the alleged incident. |
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Any identifiable image, photo, or video which implicates a student to have been in possession or presence of alcohol and/or other drugs or portrays actual use, or to have displayed behavior reflecting conduct unbecoming to an athlete or potential criminal activity, shall be confirmation of a violation. |
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B. |
Students are to self-report any violation of the code. If the student reports a violation before the principal, assistant principal or dean of students has credible evidence of a violation, the penalty for a first time violation will be reduced to ten percent (10%) of the contests. |
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C. |
Any alleged violations of Policy 2431 occurring off School District of Westfield property and/or district activities will be referred to appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation. |
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Appeals Process
Any participant and/or the participant’s parent/guardian may appeal the guilt/innocence of a code violation placed upon the student. This procedure will be followed in the event that the student and/or the student’s parent/guardian wish to pursue the matter. Parties desiring to do so must notify the school principal, in writing, of their desire to meet with the co-curricular council, within three (3) working days (not school days) of notification of a violation. Students will not be allowed to participate in their current sport until the final decision is rendered. The appeals council will listen to the parties involved within three (3) working days of notice of appeal and then render a decision.
The School Board, in its approval of the code of conduct, will recognize the appeals council appointed by the principal. The council will consist of four (4) people, the Athletic Director, a coach (not connected with the student's current sport/activity) a staff member and a School Board member. The council, with the exception of the Athletic Director, will serve a two (2) year term. The principal will assign substitutes when a member of the council asks to be removed for matters of conflict of interest. The co-curricular council meeting will be conducted by the Athletic Director. Three (3) out of four (4) council votes are needed to overturn any ruling made by the governing body. In the event of a tie the appeal is denied. The principal then informs the student and parent/guardian of the council’s decision within twenty-four (24) hours. This shall be the final appeal step and the decision is not appealable to the School Board. NOTE: the coach/advisor of the participant involved may represent the participant as a non-voting member.
NO STUDENT CAN PARTICIPATE IN ANY CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY UNLESS THE STUDENT AND THE STUDENT'S PARENT/GUARDIAN HAVE EACH SIGNED THE HANDBOOK AND RETURNED THE HANDBOOK TO THE SCHOOL.
This Code becomes effective the day after it is revised and adopted by the School Board.
Revised 11/14/12
Revised 4/17/13
Revised 11/19/14
Revised 8/19/15
Revised 3/22/17