Governing board focuses on athletic, activity eligibility

The MUSD governing board’s special meeting last night was a brief one due to the tabling of discussion and approval of arguments and statements for the M & O budget override scheduled for Nov. 9.

Some of the board members did not receive packet information on the agenda item. In addition, according to Aron Rausch, director of business services, the board has until Aug. 4 to publicly request pro and con statements on the override measure. The board must submit their statement on the override by Aug. 19. Tabling the agenda items, a unanimous board decision, may necessitate a special meeting next week.

Board members approved an overnight travel request for two graphic arts teachers to attend a Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas, an updated personnel schedule and a report to the county superintendent on the projected fiscal year 2010 district ending cash balance.

A final reading of a policy modifying the class ranking/grade point average received unanimous approval. The new policy, retroactive to the class of 2011, will not include AIMS scores in GPA calculations and will change advanced class weighting to a point system.

Athletic and activity eligibility revisions to existing policy comprised the majority of the evening’s discussion.

“I really liked this policy,” said board vice president Tracy Davis, who suggested adding a warning for ‘D’ grades. “I’d like to see mandatory study halls. It takes away kids saying they didn’t have time due to sports.”

Board members also discussed ineligible students sitting on the bench or working with teams at home games. A suggested addition to the revised policy was a statement that ineligible students not only cannot travel, but also cannot participate at home games.

“Administrative code is very clear. When students are failing one class, they are ineligible,” said superintendent Jeff Kleck.

“Eligibility is really defined by AIA. We really don’t want to say ‘you can’t practice or stay in shape.’” If, in two to four weeks, the student is eligible, you want them to be in shape for a demanding sport, Kleck added.

Previous policy called for grade checks every three to five weeks. The revision stipulates progress reporting every two weeks, a move suggested by 65 percent of the parents and teachers offering input. However, instead of students going from teacher to teacher to get progress reports signed, “the new Genesis data reporting system will allow teachers and coaches to pull up student grades on whatever schedule they want,” said MHS assistant principal Rick Neilson.

MHS assistant principal Shannon Hull in her recommendation to the board stated, “First, by making the grade checks closer together and more consistent, athletes will be able to become eligible more often.” She added that more regularly occurring grade checks, and a warning period of only two weeks, would enable parents and coaches to understand where students may need help, as well as aiding students in keeping their grades from slipping.

”I think this is a great starting point,” said Geoff Goddard, board president. “What would prevent us from implementing this district wide?”

According to Kleck, A.R.S. statute allows for progress reports for grades 6-12.

Board members unanimously approved the first reading of this policy; however, Kleck will seek information from the district’s attorney regarding the provision for a board advisory committee for parent and teacher input. “This is a policy that has a huge wheel,” he said.

There will be a second reading of the policy, as well as a public hearing on it, at a future board meeting.

File photo