Mother urges Revere board to revise policy 7.11 after homeschooled son was barred from band

Sheba Sands, a Revere District resident and mother of four, told the board she was asking trustees to revise policy 7.11 so taxpaying, home-educated resident students can participate in district performing-arts programs.

Sands described enrolling her eighth-grade son in eighth-grade band for the first quarter and said district staff placed him on the roster, assigned a guidance counselor and provided access to forms and communications. She said district administrators later told her, on Oct. 22, that a single line in policy 7.11 — which states that "home educated students may not elect to be enrolled as part time students" — barred her son from continuing in band after the concert season.

"He practiced diligently, enthusiastically prepared for his concert and turned all of his assignments in on time or early," Sands said. "Then, a week prior to his first concert, the district administration called me and told me my son could no longer participate in band due to a single line in policy 7.11." She asked the board to amend the policy so homeschooled, taxpaying residents can access band, choir or orchestra opportunities.

The board chair responded that policy 7.11 has been withdrawn for more discussion and that trustees expect to place the item on the March work session agenda for continued consideration. The chair said no vote on the policy would occur that night.

Board members thanked Sands for sharing her experience and noted the district will gather additional information and stakeholder input before returning the policy to the board. No formal action was taken at the Feb. 17 meeting.