The Westbrook School Committee has given preliminary approval to allowing athletes caught in the presence of other students using drugs or alcohol three strikes and not two before suspension.
Under the new policy, students will be reprimanded more severely the first time they’re caught in the hopes of preventing further instances. A second time will be even more severe, and a third will result in a one-year suspension.
“I think it’s good work,” said Westbrook High School Principal Marc Gousse, who feels the policy isn’t softer but tougher in the first offense. “What we had was a good policy. I think this will be a better policy.”
Many parents and residents of Westbrook have asked that the School Committee lessen the severity of the code of conduct in the last few months. The question came to the forefront following an incident before the school year where at least 10 athletes were suspended from sports for being at a party where alcohol was present. Two of the athletes received one-year suspensions.
“I think the public has the notion that we are trying to make this easier,” said parent Melissa Foye at a school committee meeting last month. “And that is not the case. We are trying to take a different approach.”
The overwhelming majority of voices heard in the previous months has been from supporters of changing the policy. As written, the policy suspends athletes for two weeks following a first offense and then a calendar year for the second offense, which many thought was too big a jump.
“What happened if your friend was at a party, and you went and picked him up and you get into trouble?” said ninth-grade football player Anthony Moore, who said he understood and signed the code of conduct and didn’t have a problem with it this year.
According to the code of conduct, a player may not be present at a party where alcohol or drugs are being used, regardless of whether that player is using themselves. The code of conduct extends beyond the boundaries of the schools and the school year, as evidenced by the party that took place before the school year that resulted in at least 10 suspensions.
Jonathan Gene, a Westbrook freshman planning to go out for basketball this year, said he doesn’t think the school’s powers should extend beyond the boundaries of school property. “I think they shouldn’t be involved in your life at home,” he said. “It’s different. School and home.”
Gene said he didn’t think any student would want the rules to be stricter and is in favor of three strikes instead of two. Moore agreed it should be less strict. “Your parents punish you enough,” he said.
Not all students feel that way, though. Qazem Sayed, a seventh-grader who plays basketball, said he thinks it should stay at two strikes. “I think you should get a warning once, and if they catch you again, you should get kicked out,” he said. “The more chances someone has, the more they’ll take.”
As written now, the code of conduct mandates a two-week suspension from sports teams for the first offense. The athlete is allowed to practice after the first week but must miss at least one game and forfeit leadership roles on the team for the year. He or she is also required to see a substance abuse counselor. For a second offense, the student is automatically suspended from activities for a calendar year.
If approved as written in this latest draft, the new policy will be stricter up front but give the students more chances. It will apply to all competitive extra-curricular activities including sports, band, and academic decathlon, among others. A first offense requires a four-week suspension with practice after two weeks. The student is required to see a counselor at least three times. For a second offense, a student will be suspended for 10 weeks and must see a counselor at least three times. All other rules apply. A third infraction results in suspension from all extra-curricular activities for a calendar year.
The School Committee will take a second and final vote on the policy change at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 8 in room 114 at Westbrook High School at 7 p.m.
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