Tuesday, July 25, 2006 • LUHS Board of Trustees decides to implement no F rule for extra-curricular activities

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, July 25, 2006 edition of the Lassen County Times.

After some discussion, the Lassen Union High School Board of Trustees decided to implement a no F rule and a two-week grade check for extracurricular activities during a meeting on Tuesday, July 11.

Superintendent Dan Lewis asked the board to discuss implementing a policy, which would make students ineligible for extracurricular activities if they received an F in a class.

Lewis said a discussion ensued at a management retreat in June regarding whether students should be allowed to represent the school if they are failing a class.

Lewis said he told the team he would bring the subject to the board for discussion.

The current policy for participation in extracurricular activities states students in grades 9-12 must be enrolled in five classes, have completed a minimum of 20 credits and receive a 2.0 grade point average, or a C average.

With the current policy, Lewis said a student could be enrolled in seven classes and can participate in extra-curricular activities with an F or a D minus or even a couple of Ds.

“At least the no F rule would ensure us a student passes every class,” he said.

The no F rule would also eliminate manipulation of a grade point average when students take an easy class and receive an A, knowing they will still be eligible for extracurricular activities while failing another class.

Board Member Karen Bradbury said the no F rule is a no brainer. “If they have an F they shouldn’t be playing … they should be doing homework,” she said.

Board Clerk Connie Herman said she also agreed with the no F rule.

She said if students want to play sports or if they want to be in the band, it’s a commitment.

“So, study, pass the class and if you’re having trouble get to where somebody can help you,” Herman said.

Board member Mark Nareau said, “I think if we’re going to throw a no F rule, then we need to implement mandatory study halls.”

He also said he didn’t agree with a one F and you’re out rule.

“I think a kid can struggle and if the F is a matter of a lack of effort then that needs to be dealt with. But I think there’s some areas of study that kids have some difficulties in and if they are receiving an F and you take sports away from them, they’ll go to a downhill slide.”

He said with the athletic supervision a coach provides, a student will more likely get out of a situation successfully if they remain an active participant.

If a no F policy were to be implemented the Superintendent would help ineligible students regain eligibility and Nareau asked how it would done.

Lewis explained about a tutorial program used to help students who are failing. Students may participate in a study session four days a week either before or after school.

According to the attendance report, students logged in 3,000 hours of tutorial help.

With a no F rule, students who play fall sports would have an advantage over athletes who play winter or spring sports.

Assistant Principal Carol Glenzer said students’ eligibility for fall sports is determined in June. If a student has failed a class, he or she has the option of taking a summer class to bring up the grade, whereas a basketball player does not have the option of bringing up a grade when basketball season starts.

President Hal Meadows said if a no F rule were to be established, coaches would be more likely to follow their students’ grades, knowing they may lose an athlete.

Glenzer said football and track coaches tend to resist the idea of a grade check, due to the large size of their teams as opposed to the basketball coach who may only have 15 players.

After Vice President Ken Theobald and Meadows both said a two-week grade check and the no F rule should be implemented and Lewis said a policy would be brought back to the board, Nareau reiterated he was not for a no F rule.

He said he was not sold on throwing a student’s entire season of sports, or band, or drama away because of one F, but would rather see intermediate steps be taken.

Bradbury said, “I think when somebody knows they’ve got to get a passing grade in a class,  they are going to get the help they need.”