District proposes rewritten athletics and activities code that adds restorative pathways and tiered sanctions

Athletic directors Erin Felber (West) and McKenzie Welnick (East) presented a comprehensive revision of the district’s athletics and activities code, shifting the handbook from a compliance focus to one that emphasizes student development, clarity and restorative consequences.

The proposed code expands coverage to co‑curricular activities, clarifies parents’ and students’ communication pathways, and aligns disciplinary responses with district policy and WIA requirements. The draft replaces a one‑size‑fits‑all three‑strike system with a three‑level incident structure (levels one through three) keyed to severity, and it provides restorative pathways — for example, online NFHS Network remediation courses and approved community volunteer hours that may reduce suspensions if completed and approved in advance.

Felber and Welnick said they solicited broad stakeholder input, including coaches, students and parents, and reported the response as “overwhelmingly positive.” “Parents, our coaches and our students all met together and they said that it was clear and easy to follow that they did not feel like it was overly punitive,” one presenter said. The draft also includes sport‑specific suspension charts and an embedded registration disclosure in Arbiter so families see concussion protocols and participation rules when they register.

The board did not take final action at the meeting; administration recommended placing the updated code on the next consent agenda for adoption so it can be in place by July 1 when fall registrations open. The board indicated that consent adoption is acceptable but retained the option to pull the item for further discussion.