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The question came up at the Marshall Board of Education meeting Tuesday, June 24, when the 2008-2009 handbooks were considered.
MHS coaches and sponsors say "yes," but one school board member says "no."
The MHS student handbook was approved, but the activities handbook was tabled because a clerical error prevented most board members from having a chance to review a complete draft.
Before tabling the issue, Athletic Director Scott Latham informed the board that coaches and sponsors for MHS teams and activities had expressed a desire to implement a "no F" policy when it comes to student eligibility.
He said the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) currently allows students to remain eligible for extracurricular activity if they have failed two classes. When they receive the third F for a semester grade they are ineligible to participate.
MSHSAA's policy will be stricter this coming school year, he said, allowing students only one failing semester grade before being disqualified.
The policy recommended by coaches and sponsors would be even more strict than MSHSAA's policy, disqualifying students who received any failing semester grades.
Board member Jeanette Klinge expressed reservations about going to such a strict standard.
"I understand wanting to raise the bar," she said. "But I have a problem if we raise this bar. We are going to be losing a lot of at-risk students."
The students she's especially concerned about are those who apply themselves and could get passing grades but who do not receive adequate support from their parents.
Klinge said she shares the concern of coaches and sponsors about academic failure but thinks the new MSHSAA standard is strict enough.
Interim Superintendent Donn Quick recommended tabling consideration of the handbook until the July meeting, which would allow board members to review a complete version of the activities handbook and consider further the implications of the eligibility policy.
In other business, the board approved a bid to lease-purchase five buses over five years from Central States Bus Sales for $358,825, a bid for Bueker Middle School roof repairs from Pat Flinn for $26,000; the purchase of an air conditioning unit for Northwest Elementary School for $5,500; and the acquisition of property and liability insurance from Hawkeye Insurance Co. for $72,837.
Asked about the district's experience with the insurance company, Deputy Superintendent Rick Radford said, of two major claims filed, it had paid one.
The cost of testing and cleaning Southeast Elementary School after toxic mold spores were discovered last fall was not paid because the policy states the source of the mold has to be determined before the expenses will be covered.
The source of mold at Southeast school was not found.
The company did pay a claim for damages caused when high winds pushed a dumpster into a vehicle parked at MHS, causing $3,000 damage, Radford said.
The board also approved the discontinuation of the swimming program at the high school.
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Comments
OldOwl, I completely agree with your post. Couldn't have said it better myself. For anyone who is in support of bringing the swim team back or would like more information on the boards decision, there will be a meeting at MPS central office conference room on Thursday, July 10 at noon.
OldOwl raises some very good questions.
It is my understanding that the swim team would've had a coach, but the athletic director decided not to bring her back. This makes me wonder if the athletic director has been working on eliminating the team for awhile? I also understand that this is not the first coach that the athletic director has gotten rid of - and the school district wonders why they have a hard time getting coaches. I know one coach that has been around for years was made to resign from a duty he had been performing for years.
Who is this athletic director anyways? First he gets rid of coaches for no reason and now he has his hands in on eliminating a whole team. WOW - our district is really headed in the right direction!!!!!!!!!
It is imperative that we support our children to be as active as possible without pushing the limit to failure. If this rule stands, the kids that have 4 A's and 1 F might be left out. That is not an unrealistic example. With that said, some of these kids need to learn and be taught to handle many responsibilities that go along with the next step. As many people know, college isn't easy and getting 1 F doesn't make you inelgible for anything. In high school the F policy will give the students less responsibility and more time to run the streets and get involved in other unfortunate things.
This was not a situation where the Board was being asked to consider adding either swim team or glassblowing. Instead, the Board decided to get rid of one existing program and add another. The swim team program had been around for several years and has produced some outstanding swimmers, including a current student who is nationally recognized! I am more concerned about the manner in which this decision was handled by the Board. I am told that the issue was not on the written agenda for the open session of the meeting. As a result, the public had no idea the matter was to be discussed. It then appears as though the matter was discussed in closed session and the Board then went out of closed session to vote. Since the discussion was not in open session, I, for one, have no idea why the decision was made. Some say it was because of money, some say it was because they could not find a coach. Since the program had been around for several years, it was already part of the budget. I think more people would be accepting of the decision if they knew exactly why the decision was made and had a better understanding of why the Board handled the decision in the way that it did. Did they consider cutting any other programs? When was the last time that any program was cut? There may have been less than 20 kids swimming last year, but is that fact alone a reason to now tell those 20 kids they are not as important as any other student? By the way, while discussing the topic of grades and playing sports, I have not done the research, but my guess is that if one were to look at the cumulative GPA of the MHS swim teams, you would see that these are not only great swimmers, but also great students!
Being a coach and former athlete, no failing grades should be allowed period! The most outstanding athletes usually end up playing college ball, and having failing grades being a college athlete is not an option. So technically, letting them by with two, even one failing grade in high school is setting them up for failure. Our first resposibility as educators is in the classroom, not on the court or the field. If they can't maintain passing grades, then they sure don't need to be spending their extra time playing sports. Maybe they should consider studying!
How many students was there on the swim team?
What did it cost to have the Swim team?
My guess would be not enough to spend the amount of money it cost to have team.
What about the kids who might have a shot at a scholarship for art? There's a lot fewer of those around than sports? Aren't those kids important too?
"The Glass Blowing addition to the Art Department is a huge opportunity for the school and our community! MHS will be THE ONLY school in our area to offer this!"
What other schools in our area offer swimming, nomad? Sedalia,Columbia,Warrensburg any others within a 50 mile radius? Swimming is NOT everywhere! Why then would the Manta Rays be driving to Topeka, KS to attend swim meets? Swimming is a very worthwhile and important sport for our school and should never have been discontinued. The school board should be ashamed and reverse their decision! I am not opposed to the glass blowing program. I just don't want the kids that have a potential future with scholarships in swimming to lose a chance at college because the board can't balance the budget. Isn't the school board supposed to put the kids first?
I hate to add another dimension to this topic...but i will:)
I'm sure all have heard by now our district isn't sitting necessarily "safe" in the area of finances. Better, yes. But not safe.
Suiting kids up in uniform and gear takes money. Each department and sport has had to make sacrifices. Perhaps this is a good time to see that those athletic resources go to the kids who are willing to try academically--GPA's notwithstanding.
Any of you guys ever watch the story of Coach Carter? It was a movie based on a true story. Coach Carter made his basketball players sign a contract agreeing that--as a team--they would succeed in the classroom as well. When some of them didn't, he benched the entire team and locked the gym. His reasoning? Giving them a future was more important to him than giving them a state title.
The Glass Blowing addition to the Art Department is a huge opportunity for the school and our community! MHS will be THE ONLY school in our area to offer this! I do forsee an extra income for our school. I would be interested in paying a fee to learn this trade. The potential to provide a unique career path for those who master this skill is also a positive. I for one, look forward to my child bringing home a gift they have created and I will treasure.
Swimming, is offered everywhere.
"... but I also see those who are not (they cheat on others, turn in incomplete work, and/or use activity as an excuse not to do it)" Marshall Citizen
The problem with these kids is they will engage in these behaviors whether they go to extracurricular activities or not. No one said that teachers have to accept 'activities' as a valid excuse for incomplete or missing work. If they do, then it is a problem with the administration and the school board for NOT backing the teachers, I would think...
While school is primarily basic education, it is also socialization, group process, and community action.
We learn how to operate in non-family environments in school. Why not make one of the 'extra-curricular programs' a homework help site? And Cheetah, I like your idea, too.
I think this is a wonderful idea. Too much emphasis is put on extracurricular activity and students start to ignore the most important aspect of school, a good education. I hear students talk all the time about how they didn't get their homework done because of an extracurricular activity. I understand that a lot of students are responsible about getting their work done, but I also see those who are not (they cheat on others, turn in incomplete work, and/or use activity as an excuse not to do it). This would reward students who work their butts off to get their work done, and those who have been sliding by and acting like academics is a waste of time will have to start bucking up. I hope this policy passes because I am tired of schools catering to student entertainment! They need to focus more on their education and less on playtime.
Did anyone else notice that MHS now has a glass blowing program, but the swim team program was terminated? I guess the Board believes it is better to blow glass rather than bubbles!
Wow, this is a touchy subject.
On the one hand, I can see the public schools aiding in raising a generation of kids who could care less about basic education because they've convinced themselves their future holds million-dollar contracts playing sports. This is the "I don't care if this kid can't spell his own name...he's got a great 3-point shot and we need to WIN WIN WIN" attitude. For that much, I have to say I respect the coaches and sponsors for putting the focus on academics over athletics.
On the other hand, I can see the potential harm this would hold for a kid who is really trying and putting forth the effort. All we can legitimately ask of anyone is to do their best. But, what if their best is a D average?
Here's my proposal: Although home environment and outside influences can/may have a direct impact on a student's performance, these issues really need to be eliminated as considerations on the part of the school system. This will keep all of us from feeling like the school is "minding our business". I think the basis for determining whether a student plays sports with an F should be a strictly academic decision--using information the teachers and counselors already have. Let me explain:
If Little Johnny is in class everyday, he turns in every assignment (or even most of them) on time, he's attentive, not disruptive, and is willing to try, let this kid play sports even with an F. To be fair, ALL of this student's teachers/coaches need to come together (collaboration day would be a good day to do this) and the majority should decide. This will minimize the opportunities for favortism or conflicts of character between teacher/student influencing the outcome.
BUT...If Little Johnny is carrying an F, starts crap, doesn't bother to turn in homework or assignments, has a high absence or tardiness record, shows obvious signs of not really caring or having any respect for anyone...cut him. Again, this is a decision that needs to be reached using the majority vote of ALL his teachers/coaches for the aforementioned reasons.
Either way, there will be those who complain. But I, for one, have to throw my support behind the school system in this case--provided the goal is to improve overall academic performance.
Bueker Middle School "raised the bar" two years ago. No student with an F can participate in practice, try-outs or games if they have an F. If a student has an F they go to practice and do homework until they raise the grade and get "cleared" by the teacher (of the class that the student is failing). This seems to be managed very well. Maybe the high school could take some advice... MHS DOES need to raise the bar and put the focus on academics! Why in the heck do kids go to school? E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N! If you believe otherwise, you have NO clue!