EAST PROVIDENCE — The School Committee at its Tuesday night, Oct. 27, meeting tabled a discussion on an update to the Athletes Code of Conduct for students who participate in sports at East Providence High School, a guideline that is also expected …
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EAST PROVIDENCE — The School Committee at its Tuesday night, Oct. 27, meeting tabled a discussion on an update to the Athletes Code of Conduct for students who participate in sports at East Providence High School, a guideline that is also expected to eventually make its way down to the middle school level as well.
Presented by District Athletic Director Bob Duarte, the updated athletes conduct policy did not jibe with similar standards in the overall student handbook in the view of many of the Committee members.
Mr. Duarte said the modifications were made by himself, EPHS Principal Shani Wallace as well as Deans of Discipline Shane Messier and Jon Stringfellow.
Ward 3 Committeeman Nate Cahoon balked at the ability of an athlete to retain their eligibility going forward despite failing up to two of seven classes in the previous quarter. Mr. Cahoon said he would be in favor of changing that to only one allowable failure during any marking period.
In reiterating his opposition Mr. Cahoon added, "Again, that's me. I kind of feel the same way about one class. But if my kid were failing two classes there's no way in hell he'd be playing on a sports team...I think we really need to reconsider the two failure. One, I can get by on one. Someone has a bad quarter...But two, either they're not doing something or they should be concentrating on school work."
Both At-Large member Joel Monteiro and Ward 4 representative Jessica Beauchaine echoed Mr. Cahoon's sentiments on academic eligibility while also raising the need to curtail the allowable limit for social probation, absences and tardiness.
"When we passed this two or three years ago it was to reinforce to these kids they have an obligation to you to wear that jersey," Mr. Monteiro said. "You wear that uniform and you're held to a higher standard and that piece doesn't hold them to a higher standard."
Mrs. Beauchaine said the social probation and attendance pieces, which appear to hold athletes and students from the general population to a different standard, did not "reflect well on the district."
Mr. Duarte said he would work with the high school and middle school principals along with other pertinent administrators to make the appropriate revisions before resubmitting the updated code for the Committee's approval.