Chester CUSD 139 approves student conduct code changes
<span>CHESTER -- After several sessions of discussion, the Chester District 139 school board approved changes to the Extra Curricular Code of Conduct for the 2014-15 school year on Tuesday by a 5-1 vote.</span>
<span>Board member Troy Clendenin, who said he preferred the current code, was the lone nay vote.</span>
<span>The new policy, designated as "Option No. 1" in school board documents, establishes new guidelines for different stages of penalties due to tobacco/alcohol and drug violations by Chester student-athletes. </span>
<span>Chester High School Principal Tim Keefe previously presented three different options to the board regarding the policy.</span>
<span>"We're trying to give the kids a reason not to do these things," said District Superintendent Chris Diddlebock after the board adjourned. "There's an out to take peer pressure away because we know it's not good for those students (and) we know what happens when these things happen."</span>
<span>The wording on the new version of the Code of Conduct is as follows:</span>
<span>"Use, possession, distribution, purchase, sale, or being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs, look-alike drugs, or the use, possession, distribution, purchase or sale of drug-related paraphernalia at any time during the calendar or academic year is prohibited.</span>
<span>"Evidence of a violation means a visual observance by an employee of the Chester School District. </span>
<span>"Evidence can also include a police report of an identified student in attendance of underage drinking, and/or a police ticket issued to a student for underage drinking.</span>
<span>"Student admittance as to the offense will also count as a violation."</span>
<span>Under the new policy, violations for drug possession are treated separately than alcohol/tobacco. The first violation for drug possession would be suspension from participation for one calendar year and 30 hours of community service.</span>
<span>The second violation is a career suspension.</span>
<span>For alcohol/tobacco, the first offense is a season suspension, followed by a calendar year and then career. If the suspensions can not be completed in one season, they will roll over to the next activity.</span>
<span>The first two violations also each carry a penalty of 30 hours of community service and an alcohol and drug assessment. Students can also lessen the penalties by participating in an approved counseling program.</span>
<span>"We do the best we can to try and give the kid an out, but we have to have something to stand on," Diddlebock said.</span>
<span>The board members spent a significant amount of time discussing the interpretation of the "visual observance" part of the code. </span>
<span>Board member Adam Gibbs asked if that included pictures and video, which it does, but Diddlebock said the evidence must be credible.</span>
<span>"My concern is you just gave free reign to the internet and social media," said board president Micah Reiman during the meeting.</span>
<span>"The problem is we're not set up to do this 24/7, but society wants us to," Diddlebock said.</span>
<span>Violations to the policy will include a conference between the student, a parent/guardian, the principal and the athletic director or activity sponsor.</span>
<span>The student-athlete may not attend any practice or event until after that conference has been held.</span>
<span>"We can go off in so many tangents," Keefe said. "We can make it really simple - if a police officer issues a ticket, it's pretty cut and dry."</span>
<span>Keefe said there are two students, both "not seniors," who are on the old style of punishment and will finish their violations as directed by the current code.</span>
<span>Any new violations will be assessed by the new code.</span>
<span>"My feeling is if the police officer takes the time to put (the student's) name down, in my professional judgement, that's good enough for me," Keefe said.</span>
<span>From there, the discussion went to whether or not tobacco abuse should carry the same punishments as alcohol.</span>
<span>"The key is we want our student-athletes to know what they have is a privilege and there are consequences," Keefe said.</span>
<span>The current wording had lumped alcohol, tobacco and drugs together under a four-strike system. The first offense was 50 percent of the season, then a full season, then a full calendar year and finally, a career.</span>