Attendees: Anecia Grigsby, Chris Sampson, Jeff Lowell, Michelle Ball, Woody MacLeod

Review initial draft revisions to Procedure 2151

The current focus is to put Procedure 2151 in a format that mirrors Policy 3241. Since last meeting, Jeff created an initial draft using the committee’s input from previous meetings to change the language and order of the current Athletic Code. Once the initial draft is complete, Jeff will ask John Harrison, Executive Director, to review and provide feedback to the committee. Members will then continue to work, using the same set of lenses, to create a final draft using language that is easy to interpret and makes sense to students, admin, parents, and the community. Once the committee has given final recommendations, the admin in charge of the procedure (i.e. John Harrison and Jeff Lowell) will use that as guidance to write the revised procedure. A new procedure does not need to go to the Board for approval. A revised policy goes to the Board, but a procedure does not. Administrators are given the flexibility to work with the procedures as needed. Regarding the timeline, the plan is not to roll out until next year.

Two handouts were provided: an original Athletic Code with markups tracked and a second Athletic Code with markups incorporated. It was noted a preamble was added to better mirror 3241, including language that will need to be modified to best fit the Athletic Code. Also noted was the need for specific committee input regarding when behavior rises to the level of exceptional misconduct, the implementation of corrective action, and the drug and alcohol section.

Time was given for members to review handouts.

Identify additional suggestions

Members walked through and discussed the draft, looking specifically at flow:

It was agreed to replace “sanctions” with “corrective action” throughout.

It was noted direction is currently not included when a student appeals the sanction. Can a student participate while they are waiting to hear? A short discussion was held and modifications/recommendations added concerning if an athlete maintains eligibility during the appeal process.

It was noted in “First Violation, 2, i,” it states “from no more than 20% of the regular season contests …” A short discussion was held as to whether there is discretion to prohibit participation under that 20%. The language in 3241 does differentiate depending on violation. Under 2151, all violations are dealt with the same. Modifications/recommendations were added regarding the allowance and application of discretion in administrative decision-making.

Members again walked through and discussed the draft, looking specifically at language:

It was agreed the preamble should be included. A discussion was held and modifications/recommendations added regarding athletics being a privilege not a right, the importance of safety issues, level of discretion for administrators, using language that is accessible, etc.

Specific to the code, a discussion was held and modifications/recommendations added regarding the arrangement of blocks of text, opportunity for a different form of corrective action to be completed prior to next season if possible, noting differences in infractions, exceptional misconduct as it relates to safety, the drug and alcohol language, emergency expulsion, other definitions and discipline, etc.

Homework

Members were asked to review the draft’s violations and provide feedback (via phone to Jeff at 425.456.4010 or via email to [email protected] or [email protected]) no later than end of day Tuesday 2/7.

Next Meeting

Thursday, February 16, 5:00-6:30pm ESC-West Suite 308

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.