Albert Lea High School will hand out stiffer penalties to athletes for drinking and smoking next year.

Tuesday, May 22, 2001

Albert Lea High School will hand out stiffer penalties to athletes for drinking and smoking next year.

In a move to deter chemical abuse violations, the school board approved a new three-strikes policy for ALHS athletes beginning next school year.

Following the recommendation of Athletic Director Ross Williams, the board decided to institute the policy, which has shown dramatic results at two Rochester high schools this year. Williams said the policy – more rigorous than the Minnesota State High School League’s minimum requirements – curbed violations at Rochester’s Century High School by 72 percent in the last two years. Mayo High School also implemented the policy and showed a 62 percent decrease.

&uot;It’s strict, but it shows results that we can’t ignore,&uot; Williams told the board at Monday’s regular meeting. &uot;It gives us consistency across the programs.&uot;

The new policy establishes the following penalties for chemical abuse violations reported by to the school district by local authorities:

n First violation – the student loses eligibility for 50 percent of the scheduled regular-season events. Any unfulfilled suspension also carries over into other activities.

n Second violation – the student loses eligibility for one calendar year, or the student can take the 50-percent penalty plus arrange for 20 hours of community service along with a chemical-education project.

n Third violation – the student loses all eligibility for further participation. Students determined to be chemically dependent can be reinstated upon completion of a treatment program after a minimum of one year.

Williams said the policy is cumulative throughout a student’s high school career and includes illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The rule also applies to students during the summer months, he said.

Trustee Ken Petersen said he supported the new policy, saying the existing MSHSL policy of two weeks or two games was &uot;too soft.&uot; But trustee Marjorie Thorn wondered why the policy applied only to athletics.

Williams said he is planning to work with school counselors and staff to establish a similar policy for other high school extracurricular activities such as music, theater and debate.

&uot;I think we need a clear-cut policy in place for all activities. Right now it’s handled on a more case-by-case basis,&uot; Williams said.

Williams said students accused of violations retain the right to due process and will have the chance to explain their involvement in any chemical-abuse situation. However, if a student denies the violation and is subsequently found guilty, the penalty is extended by nine weeks.