By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Fayette athletes and other students involved in extracurricular activities now have more incentive to behave themselves.

The Board of Education Monday approved a new code of conduct designed “to provide high expectations regarding behavior and minimum consistent consequences when violations occur,” said secondary operations director Wayne Robinson.

Robinson said inconsistencies in punishment, particularly in athletic programs, led him to propose the new minimum guidelines adopted Monday.

The code states that “participation in school athletic and extracurricular activities is a privilege and not a property right.” It also gives coaches and sponsors the right to establish consequences that are more stringent than the stated code.

According to the code, students enrolled in the alternative school, or who have a long-term suspension, are ineligible to attend or participate in any athletic or extracurricular activity.

A student who is arrested for a felony, regardless of the location or time of the alleged act, in or out of school, will be immediately suspended from all participation pending investigation by school officials.

For violations involving alcohol and drugs, tobacco use in-season or violation of school rules that result in in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension, a school administrator must have valid evidence and/or written or verbal admission to the offense by the student or athlete. This covers offenses occurring on school property at any time, off the school grounds, at a school-sponsored event, and on the way to and from school.

A student will be suspended from any athletic activity for 25 percent of the season for the first offense involving an alcohol or drug violation, and suspension from athletic activities for one calendar year for a second offense. Coaches are first required to meet with the student athlete and his/her parents.

Tobacco offenses committed in season call for a minimum of a one-game suspension for the first offense, suspension from the athletic activity for 25 percent of the season for a second offense, and dismissal from the team for the third offense. The students would be allowed to try out for other athletic activities after the season ends for the sport they were involved in.

Violations that result in in-school suspension allow students to resume participation when all assignments are completed and they are released from the ISS. If a student completes out of school suspension, he/she may resume participation upon return to school.

An out of school suspension for two or more days requires suspension from one game for the first offense, suspension from athletic activity for 25 percent of the season for the second offense, and dismissal from the team for the third offense, with an opportunity to try out for other activities when the sport has completed its season.

In other school business, North Fayette Elementary School is $10,000 ahead on plans to upgrade its playground and replace old equipment thanks to an Emergency Fund grant approved by Gov. Roy Barnes.

But Fred Oliver, assistant superintendent for Fayette County schools, said the grant “is just a drop in the bucket” based on today's cost of purchasing top-quality equipment.

The school also has accrued between $7,000 and $10,000 from the sale of timber removed from the property to make room for a new septic system.

Parents from North Fayette Elementary School have long been concerned about the safety of the school's aging playground and have addressed the issue before the board on several occasions.