Charlo student handbook discussed at special meeting

During a special Board of Education meeting Monday evening in Charlo, students, parents and community members voiced their opinions and asked questions regarding what was described as “the perfect storm” as more than 20 students were suspended from athletics.

More than 50 people attended the meeting at the high school library, which was called by Charlo District officials to review the handbook policy.

ON TUESDAY morning, Superintendent Steve Love explained that district parents reported to coaches that student athletes were in violation of district policy.

Coaches then began asking students about the allegations, in which during conversations “names came up,” Love said.

Some students admitted their involvement in consuming alcohol, marijuana and other substances, Love said, while other students initially denied their involvement, only to later go back to officials and admit their actions “at one time or another during the season.”

Love said that coaches were told on Oct. 8 about the allegations, and Principal Bonnie Perry and Love learned of the situation on Oct. 10.

THE RESULT was suspending the 20-some students, from the football, volleyball and cross country track teams, as post seasons in the sports draw closer.

“It was the perfect storm. Enough kids got involved to where it put two programs in jeopardy. It wasn’t at the beginning of the year when we could make up for it; it’s at the end of the season when something needs to be done right now or we lose the season,” Board Trustee Adrian Roylance said.

Trustee Tracy Olsen also noted that when the policy was written, it more than likely wasn’t in mind that many students at one time would be affected.

The part of the student handbook heavily discussed throughout the special meeting and regular board meeting that began at 7 p.m. was the “vague” description of self-reporting.

SOME PARENTS and officials wondered if self-reporting meant if the language means for a student to volunteer their actions when staff don’t have knowledge, while others asked if it meant coercion.

Following dialogue where trustees discussed for roughly one hour, it was decided that no action would be taken to change the wording of the policy, which has been in effect for six years.

Some parents pointed out that a concussion slip is signed and turned into staff before students can play sports, but signing the handbook policy is more lax.

BOARD TRUSTEES acknowledged that a similar protocol for the handbook policy should be put in place in the future.

Some explained their frustration because of the forfeit against Darby on Oct. 11.

During the meeting, Love told trustees and attendees that the district has taken up a collection to send to a Darby family who lost one of their athletes following a battle with cancer.

The game was scheduled to be Darby’s “senior night” as well as honoring the family of the student, Love said Tuesday.

A safety issue was also part of the reason to call off the game, Love explained at the meeting, when the suspensions were given.

The students that were eligible to play were either hurt or not experienced enough to play against varsity players, he noted Tuesday.

It was mentioned by parents, community and trustees during the meetings that the community feels strongly that Charlo students are “good” kids and representatives of the district.

STARTING OFF the special meeting were several students who apologized to the school board and community for their actions, along with parents who apologized.

Most people that addressed trustees in the hour-long meeting stated that while the athletic students did not act within the district policy, the ways in which the students were punished by administration was not just.

Principal Bonnie Perry stated that students that were at the incidents where the alleged activity occurred but they did not partake were still punished, because they didn’t come forward with their knowledge of the situations.

The decision to suspend those in attendance was made with coaches, she said.

“The last thing I want for kids to do is walk out and not trust me, because we can’t get a lot done if there’s no trust there,” Perry shared with trustees.

ACCORDING TO the handbook, “unsolicited” means the students are not approached by staff, Perry said.

The handbook has been reviewed “over and over” with students in the district, Perry explained.

The suspensions were given at Perry’s discretion, she shared.

Trustee Jodie Buxbaum asked Perry to go over how the handbook policy was utilized.

Perry said that using tobacco or marijuana falls under the suspension guideline within the policy.

School employees initially solicited the information, which led to an investigation with administration.

A form of questions was used by Perry, she said, for each student that was questioned.

At the end of each conversation with students, Perry said she asked if there was anything else she needed to know.

Although several people acknowledged during the special meeting that youths will partake in underage drinking and experimenting with smoking, it has always happened and there isn’t a way to regulate those actions.

ON TUESDAY, Love said that the possibility of drug testing isn’t something that is needed.

“One of the things that’s being missed here is there were students not in athletics” taking part in the drinking and smoking, and “nothing is being done to them” by way of the handbook.

“They still come to school, they’re not being questioned,” Love said.

Drug testing, he went on, discriminates against athletes.

“Our athletes get held to a higher standard… But at the same time, they work harder and they have a lot more to lose.”

For anyone interested in donating to the Darby family, donations will be accepted at the main office at Charlo High School, 404 First Ave. West, Charlo.

The student handbook policy for the 2018-2019 school year can be found by visiting www.charlo.k12.mt.us.