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Student urges protections for ISL athletics; board cites curriculum and liability concerns
Summary
A Chatham High School student urged the board to protect the ISL program and asked for training and safeguards; trustees responded that the district’s primary concern is meeting state curriculum requirements and managing liability, and the superintendent said he will not recommend changes in his final days.
A student speaker urged the School District of the Chathams Board of Education to preserve the ISL athletics program and strengthen student education and safeguards after reporting harassment concerns.
Emily Smith, who identified herself as speaking for the ISL program, told the board that harassment is the "main threat" to the program and urged steps such as employee background checks for partner programs, student seminars about advocacy and parent agreements for off‑site activities. "We should make this happen," she said, asking the district to consider models that let students earn credit while participating in outside athletic programs.
Board members acknowledged the concern but stressed different priorities. The superintendent, Dr. Lasusa, said he would not be recommending a change to the program for the coming year in his final days and reiterated liability and administrative concerns tied to waiving curriculum requirements. A board trustee summarized the district’s primary issue as curriculum alignment: private or for‑profit programs may not meet the full state requirements for credit and therefore cannot simply replace mandated instruction.
Why it matters: The remarks touch on the tension between accommodating students’ outside commitments and ensuring instruction meets New Jersey learning standards and statutory requirements for curriculum credit.
Responses and context: Trustees described two separate concerns: (1) curricular compliance (whether an outside athletic program can be counted for required health/PE instruction) and (2) safety/liability. One trustee noted that curricular compliance is the primary obstacle, with safety and supervision a secondary but real consideration. Superintendent Lasusa reiterated that other districts handle these issues differently but that the district must consider liability and how credit is administered.
Next steps: No policy change was adopted at the meeting. The board and administration signaled ongoing discussion and review; parents and students were encouraged to participate in forthcoming calendar and curriculum communications.
