BUCKFIELD — Regional School Unit 10 directors unanimously approved the first reading of a revised policy that would prohibit student athletes on academic probation from attending away games. 

Under the current co-curricular and extracurricular activities policy, they can practice with the team and attend away games but cannot play.

Assistant Superintendent Pam Doyon said the issue arose with a family concerned that one of their children was on academic probation but allowed to participate in sports at the expense of their studies.

Board member Jeremy Volkernick of Rumford disagreed with the proposed change, saying, “That’s been going on for many years; a student that’s on academic probation can participate in practice but he cannot participate in the game. I don’t feel we should go and penalize this particular student by (saying) you’re part of the team but you’re not allowed to go to the game. We shouldn’t do that to that student.”

“There are some places we go and the kids are home at 10 o’clock at night,” board member Michelle Casey of Buckfield said. “In some instances, I feel that if they’re out two or three nights a week — maybe that’s part of the problem of why they are not passing (their subjects). And it is a punishment, if you cannot keep your grades up. Playing sports is a privilege.”

“I think if a student wants to travel with the team he’s got to get his academics up,” board member Peter DeFilipp of Mexico said. “This is for any extracurricular activity you want to be involved in whether it’s band, or drama or anything.”

Chairman Bruce Ross of Dixfield reminded board members that the revised policy was a first reading and members should talk to the Policy Committee to ask for the policy to be “retweaked.”

In other news, facilities and grants coordinator Scott Holmes told the board about a government grant for a swipe card key system for educators and administrators to access Mountain Valley Middle School.

Mountain Valley High School uses the system and the goal is to have it installed at all RSU 10 buildings.

Holmes was authorized to apply for the grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The school calendar for 2017-18 was set, with the first day of school Aug. 30 and the last day June 8, 2018.

The next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

Members of the Regional School Unit 10 board met Monday night in Buckfield and approved the first reading of a revised policy on rules governing student athletes on academic probation.

Members of the Regional School Unit 10 board met Monday night in Buckfield and approved the first reading of a revised policy on rules governing student athletes on academic probation.