Participation in school activities is a privilege. School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and ability in the students during their school years and for their lifetime. Any such events must be directed or guided by licensed school personnel.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in a school activity unless the activity is not offered or the student cannot participate for disciplinary reasons.
Student activity events must be approved by the superintendent unless they involve unusual travel and expense, in which case the board will take action. The events must not disrupt the education program or other district operations.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent in conjunction with building principals to develop administrative regulations for each school activity. These regulations will include, but not be limited to, when physical examinations will be required, how and when parents will be informed about the risk of the activity, academic requirements, and proof of insurance for the student participating in certain activities. Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the district for participation in the activity.
ATHLETICS
If the activity is an intramural or interscholastic athletic activity, students of the opposite sex will have a comparable opportunity for participation. Comparable opportunity does not guarantee boys and girls will be allowed to play on each other's teams when there are athletic activities available that will allow both boys and girls to reap the benefits of school activities, which are the promotion of additional interests and abilities in the students.
With permission from a parent or guardian, an eighth grade student may participate in interscholastic athletic contests or competitions at the high school level instead of the eighth grade level. Although parent permission is required, the decision regarding whether an eighth grade student may participate at the high school level will be made by the relevant district staff such as the activities director, principal, coach, or superintendent on a case-by-case basis; decisions of the district staff are final and are not able to be appealed. An eighth grade student who participates at the high school level cannot also participate on an eighth grade team in the same sport during the same season. Students may not compete in both programs during the same sport season. Any eighth grade student participating in high school athletics must meet the annual athletic physical examination requirements applicable to include the Supplemental Provider Attestation, eligibility requirements, and good conduct applicable to all student athletes. Factors that will be considered in this decision include but are not limited to compliance with all applicable Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) rules, student safety, roster capacity, facility capacity, coaching capacity, and eligibility requirements. The superintendent, in conjunction with the athletic director, will develop administrative regulations and procedures necessary to administer this policy.
A high school student who participates in school sponsored athletics may participate in a non-school sponsored sport during the same season. Such outside participation will not conflict with the school-sponsored athletic activity.
Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 5/11; 4/12; 10/14; 1/15; 10/17; 9/20; 10/23
Revised: 7/13; 9/26
Related Policy: 502.5-R3; 502.6; 503.5-6
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): 216.9; 280.13-14; 281 IAC 12.3(6), 12.6, 36.8
IASB Reference: 504.06
Mandatory Policy