Committee moves change to middle‑school eligibility policy to full Board, citing student supports

The Bristol School District policy committee voted to advance proposed changes to Policy 6145.2, which would remove the marking‑period conduct grade as an across‑the‑board bar to middle‑school participation in extracurricular and co‑curricular activities and align middle‑school eligibility standards with current high‑school academic criteria.

Staff told the committee that removing the conduct‑grade barrier is intended to help students remain engaged with school through activities, and that administrators would still retain authority to restrict participation on a case‑by‑case basis for in‑day incidents. "We want students who might need that additional support to feel connected to the school," the presenter said.

Committee members sought confirmation that students who fall below academic eligibility thresholds receive supports. Staff pointed to existing practices and a separate policy requiring academic support: monthly reviews, counselor involvement, administrator intervention and team‑based monitoring. The presenter said approximately 75% of staff have received restorative‑practice training and that work is underway to broaden training to new administrators and social workers.

A committee motion to forward the revised policy to the full Board for review and approval passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded on the public record. The committee agreed to schedule a special policy meeting to address remaining items and to prepare background materials for the full Board.