JAY — RSU 73 directors voted 11-1 Thursday to approve student handbooks, with Director Dan DiPompo of Jay opposed.

Directors questioned why the rules were not the same at the Jay and Livermore Falls high schools.

Principals said they need one more year to bring handbooks completely in line for the Spruce Mountain High School campuses.

There will be two graduations again in 2013. There also will be different student recognition processes for seniors at each campus. Initially, Principal Gilbert Eaton of the north campus in Jay said it would change to honor the top 10 students, as the south campus does. After talking to staff and looking at statistics to see how many students would be affected, he changed his mind.

The two principals agreed each campus would have its own process, Eaton said Monday. Each has different weighted grades and it would be unfair to students to change now, he said. Once the students are at one campus, that will change.

If the Jay campus changed from its recognition of seniors who have a grade point average of 90 and above to recognizing the top 10 seniors, they would lose one student, Eaton said. They currently have 11 seniors qualifying for recognition.

If the Livermore Falls campus changed from the top 10 recognition to Jay’s grade point average system, two students would be left out, he said.

DiPompo asked about the wording in the academic probation section. If the student’s grades are not up to standard at the end of the initial 10-day probation period, but substantial improvement and more student effort are evident, the principal may grant an additional 10-day probation period. Otherwise, the student will be removed from the extra or co-curricular activity they are in.

The word “may” allows for interpretation of an administrator that could result in a star athlete getting preferential treatment over one that is not as good, DiPompo said. He said there needed to be something that was clear so there is a level playing field.

Student academic checks will be done every four weeks, instead of every two like last year. They will be done mid-quarter and at the end of the quarter. Two-week checks will begin once a student is on academic probation.

Students will have to pass six classes to participate in athletics or other extracurricular activities, Eaton said.

If a student takes eight classes, he or she can still fail two and participate.

The Maine Principals Association requires students to pass five classes to play, Eaton said.

“Every kid has to take six classes, every kid has to pass six classes,” Eaton said. The expectation is that they will be core courses. The word “may” gives the principal flexibility to handle different situations that may come up, he said.

Directors also questioned different cellphone policies.

Students at the Jay campus are allowed to use cellphones during lunch period in the cafeteria. Students at Livermore Falls are not allowed to use cellphones during the school day, unless office staff allow them to use them in the office.

“I was under the understanding that we were having one handbook,” teacher Annette Girardin of the Jay school said.

“We are working on it,” Leunig said.

Students at Livermore Falls need to earn a grade of 92 or better in all classes to receive high honors, and 83 or better for honors. Previously the grades were 90 and 80, respectively.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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