Athletes’ punishment appealed

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE — Parents, other residents and a group of the district’s coaching staff appeared before a special meeting of the Sullivan West School Board on Thursday, February 7.

The group appealed to the board to mitigate what they said was an excessively harsh policy of punishment against students who were accused of alcohol and drug use.

Four high school students, three of them basketball players, were punished in conjunction with the policy. The athletes were suspended from participation in sports for 100 days and all four students were suspended from any after-school program, and denied access to school property after 3:15 p.m.

The students’ names were withheld.

The policy allows for an appeal process that could lessen the period to 50 days.

The parents expressed concern because the basketball season was drawing to a close and the sectional championships were scheduled in a week or so.

“You’re killing these kids with this unreasonable ruling,” one parent said. “They’re seniors and are hoping to get selected by colleges.”

“Drug and alcohol abuse are extremely serious matters and should not be glossed over,” said board member Donna Sauer-Jones, who is a social worker for BOCES.

“I admit that there has not been a consistent enforcement of the policy,” said board member Dr. Jerry Triolo.

Triolo said that the wording of the policy left areas of uncertainty that should be resolved.

“The athletes are being discriminated against,” said girls’ basketball coach Ron Bernhardt. “Other students do not receive the same punishment.”

Someone pointed out that a student from the Delaware Valley campus had been guilty of a similar infraction and, because she was not an athlete, she was not punished at all.

The coaches and parents called for the board to clarify the policy.

The board went into executive session and returned, notifying the audience that a committee was formed to review the policy and remove the unclear sections and make the policy fair.

The board, however, said that the policy still stands for the current school year and any changes will go into effect next year.

School Superintendent Michael Johndrow then announced that he would meet with the parents of the athletes separately. He would not comment on what he anticipated the outcome of those conferences would be.