Activities Drug and Alcohol Policy
Students who participate in the Sheridan County School District #2 Activities Programs must observe regulations that are more restrictive than those relating to the general student community. Participation in SCSD#2 activity programs is both an honor and a responsibility. Activity participants earn recognition for the achievements as representatives of their school and its ideals. Those students who are selected for the privilege of membership on teams should conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to be a credit to their parents or guardians, the school and their community. Exemplary conduct is expected throughout the year, in or out of season, in or out of uniform, whether on campus or off. Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) hereby consent and agree that the School Resource Officer or any other law enforcement personnel may disclose to SCSD#2 any involvement that the student has with drugs, alcohol, tobacco and/or any criminal activity that the student is involved with and all details and circumstances surrounding the student’s involvement in said matters.
A. Conduct of Student Participants
The community, school administrators, and the activity staff feel strongly that high standards of conduct and citizenship are essential in maintaining a sound program of activities. The welfare of the student is our major consideration and transcends any other consideration. A firm and fair policy of enforcement is necessary to uphold the regulations and standards of the activities department. Offenses of the Activity Code of Conduct are cumulative from activity-to-activity and from year-to-year.
All participants in the school activities program shall abide by a code of ethics, which will earn them the honor and respect that participation and competition in the interscholastic program affords. Any conduct that results in dishonor to the student, the team or the school will not be tolerated. Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:
i) Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct such as cheating, fighting, or verbal abuse of officials, contestants, coaches, or spectators.
ii) Theft or vandalism of private or public property.
iii) Any acts of disrespect or insubordination to the school staff, the Sheridan School Discipline Procedure or violations of the law.
iv) Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or by a group. Hazing is defined as any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, membership, or affiliation with any activity.
v) Cyber Image Guidelines. It is contrary to SCSD#2 guidelines for a student-athlete to participate in any way in any identifiable image, photo or video which implicates the student-athlete to have been in possession of or in the presences of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, out of character behavior, or any crime. Since there is no way to establish a time frame for when or the location of where the image was taken, the student-athlete must assume the responsibility of avoiding these situations. It must also be noted that there may be persons who would attempt to implicate a student by taking images to place them in situations where they might be in violation of this standard.
vi) Presence of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. The more a student has access to and/or is familiar with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, the greater the likelihood that he or she will use those substances. Similarly, the more often a student is in the presence of others using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, the greater the likelihood that he or she may be accused, rightly or wrongly, of the use of these substances. Therefore, if a student attends a party or gathering of any kind, or is in a vehicle or any other place, where tobacco, alcohol, or drugs are being illegally dispensed or used, the student must leave the situation and/or place and report his or her attendance to the athletic director before the end of the next school day. If the party or gathering occurs over the summer, the student has seventy-two (72) hours to report to the athletic director. Leaving a detailed e-mail addressed to the Athletic Director is considered a report. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will constitute unacceptable conduct.
Disciplinary action for misconduct may include probation, suspension from the next contest or more than one contest, dismissal from the team, and/or action reasonably fitting the seriousness of the violation or other disciplinary action as set forth herein.
B. Conduct Regarding Tobacco/Nicotine Products, Alcohol, Drugs, or Controlled Substances
No use of alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, drugs, or performance enhancing drugs. Students who volunteer to participate in any extra-curricular activity will not possess, sell, distribute, be under the influence of, or use of alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, or other drugs, unauthorized medication, performance enhancing drugs, look-alike drugs, or drug related paraphernalia. This policy remains in effect year-round throughout their activity career. All suspected violations are to be reported to the Activities Director. The preliminary investigation will be conducted by the head coach/sponsor. Disciplinary action for violations of this policy shall be as follows:
First Offense:
Suspension from participation in extra-curricular activities for 25% of the games/contests scheduled for the extra-curricular activity that the student is participating in. The student must also attend the SHS Insight Counseling Service for a period of time as required by the Activities Director, attend all scheduled meetings, and adhere to all recommendations set forth by the counseling service. In the alternative, the student may obtain counseling from an alternate professional service provided the counseling is approved by the Athletic Director and the student’s parents/guardians pay for all costs and expenses of the alternate counseling. The student may practice during the suspension at the discretion of the coach, but may not travel, suit up for or participate in contests. If the season finishes before the student completes the suspension, the suspension shall continue into the next extra-curricular activity that the student-athlete participates in. If the student quits the extra-curricular activity or does not comply with all of the terms of the suspension before completing the suspension, the suspension shall start over and must be satisfied completely before the student may participate in any other extra-curricular activity. All disputes concerning the number of games/contests of the suspension shall be determined by the Activities Director.
Second Offense:
Suspension from participation in extra-curricular activities for 50% of the games/contests scheduled for the extra-curricular activity that the student is participating in. The student must also attend the SHS Insight Counseling Service for a period of time as required by the Activities Director, attend all scheduled meetings, and adhere to all recommendations set forth by the counseling service. In the alternative, the student may obtain counseling from an alternate professional service provided the counseling is approved by the Athletic Director and the student’s parents/guardians pay for all costs and expenses of the alternate counseling. The student may practice during the suspension at the discretion of the coach, but may not travel, suit up for or participate in contests. If the season finishes before the student completes the suspension, the suspension shall continue into the next extra-curricular activity that the student-athlete participates in. If the student quits the extra-curricular activity or does not comply with all of the terms of the suspension before completing the suspension, the suspension shall start over and must be satisfied completely before the student may participate in any other extra-curricular activity. All disputes concerning number of games/contests of the suspension shall be determined by the Activities Director.
Third Offense:
The student will be dismissed from all extracurricular activities for the remainder of his/her high school career.
C. Individual Sponsor Rules
Coaches/sponsors may establish additional rules and regulations with the approval of the Activities Director and Principal for their respective activity. These rules as pertaining to a particular activity must be given by the coach in writing to all team/club members and explained fully at the start of the activity. Penalties for violation of team/club rules will also be in writing and shall be administered by the coach/sponsor.
D. Class Attendance
Any athlete who is declared truant will be ineligible for that day’s practice. Suspension from practice will be enforced when the attendance secretary confirms the truancy. All students must be in school for at least one-half of the normal school day to participate in a practice session. On the day of the contest, the student must attend all of his or her registered classes. The only exception to this would be an absence due to an extenuating nature such as a funeral, professional appointment, medical emergency, personal or family crisis, faculty excused absence, or an accident. The activities director/principal must approve any absence on the day of the contest prior to the absence. If an attendance print out is not available to the coach/sponsor prior to an activity; any violation of this rule will carry over to the next contest.
E. Policy on Unsportsmanlike Conduct at a Contest
Any student who has been disqualified from an activity, game, contest, or tournament for committing an unsportsmanlike act shall be disqualified for the remainder of that game, contest, or tournament. In addition, for football, soccer, track, cross-country, tennis, golf, and swimming the player shall be
disqualified from the next one or two contests at the level of play from which the player was ejected as per WHSAA regulations. Unsportsmanlike acts either prior to or following a contest will result in similar penalties. A contest shall be defined by the criteria developed by the national governing body whose rules are utilized for that sport.
F. Appearance
Each coach/sponsor will have rules covering the appearance and grooming standards of his/her participants. Participants are expected to maintain a reasonably acceptable appearance at all times.
G. Due Process
A student shall be given oral or written notice of any violation against her/him and the proposed discipline. The student shall have the right to present his/her side of the story, before any disciplinary action is taken. The student may request a hearing, which will be attended by the student, the student’s parent/guardian, and the head coach or activity sponsor. At the hearing, the charges against the student will be presented as well as the rule that the student has been accused of breaking. The student will then be allowed to present his/her side of the story. The head coach/sponsor will make a decision on the charges at that time. The student or his/her parents may appeal a decision of suspension or dismissal, to the Activities Director or the Principal.
H. Scholastic Eligibility
Previous Semester Record
WHSAA Rule 6.2.0: Passed 5 solid subjects which is 2.5 credit hours during the immediate preceding semester to compete in the current semester. Therefore to compete in the fall semester you must pass 5 classes for 2.5 credit hours in the previous spring semester, and to compete in the spring semester you must pass 5 classes for 2.5 credit hours in the previous fall semester.
Current Semester Record
Do passing work in five credit classes during the present semester. Grades will be formally checked weekly. If a student-athlete is not passing five classes at the grade check, he/she will be ineligible to compete the next week of competition, and will stay ineligible until he/she is passing five classes, at which time eligibility would be reinstated. Eligibility tutoring will be required for any student athlete with a “D” or “F”.
I. Broadcasting of School Activities
Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) hereby acknowledge that SCSD#2 activities may be broadcast to the public via radio, television, and internet, live video programming or other means of transmission. Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) hereby consents and agrees to such broadcasting and grants permission to SCSD#2 and its assigns to utilize the student’s image, likeness, actions, and statements in any live or recorded audio, video, or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication, or reproduction made of, or at, SCSD#2 activities without further authorization.
