Failure Is Not An Option District 81 Gets Tough With Students Busy With Activities

Football practice at North Central High School began Tuesday afternoon in the school library.

For a half-hour, wide shoulders hunched over textbooks and coach Wes Hobbs called the plays: “Quiet!” and “Watch the chattering, please.”

Every player showed up for the unusual practice on the first day of school, despite the baffled looks Hobbs received when he announced the new, twice-weekly study routine. He’d warned the athletes of the dangers of skipping: “Their heinie’s in a slinger.”

“It’s like they’re walking out on grass right now, as far as I’m concerned,” Hobbs said. “This is practice.”

Spokane coaches have good reason to make sure players keep up their grades this year. For the first time, a single F can bench a District 81 athlete. Or a cheerleader, a student body officer - even a member of the debate team.

The new policy is much stricter than standards set by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which says students must pass at least four full-time classes.

Spokane educators decided that wasn’t tough enough.

“We have that small percentage (of students) who say, ‘I’m too busy doing my activity, and I don’t want to study,”’ said Randy Ryan, the district’s activities coordinator.

“Anybody gets perturbed when a student takes an attitude that it doesn’t matter.”

Besides avoiding F’s, athletes also will be required to stay away from parties featuring drugs and alcohol.

Under the old rules, they just had to make sure they didn’t partake. Now, they can’t even be there without breaking the contract.

Tony Beggs, a 16-year-old halfback at North Central, said he understands why athletes shouldn’t flunk. But he doesn’t think he should be forced to leave fun parties just because other kids start drinking.

“If you’re not drinking, you should be fine,” he said. “You should be able to hang out with your friends.”

Quarterback Nick Froscheiser doesn’t think athletes should be at beer bashes, even if they don’t imbibe. But no F’s?

“It’s a tad strict,” said Froscheiser, 16. “I guess they ain’t putting up with no crap this year.”

Activities contracts vary among districts. Central Valley follows the state standards by requiring students to pass four classes of six.

Mead high schools make it a little tougher, requiring a student to make at least 4 C’s or earn at least a 2.0 grade-point average.

“They could really be flunking classes in our district and still play,” said John Miller, athletic director at the new Mt. Spokane-Mead High School, where school starts today for the first time.

At Riverside High School in north Spokane County, athletes must pass six of seven classes. Students there can also be benched for attending a party where alcohol or drugs are used.

In District 81 schools, the new rules apply to athletes, student officers, cheerleaders and drill team members throughout the season, 24 hours a day.

For students in band and drama programs or on debate teams, the rules are more relaxed. They apply only when those students are with the group and representing the school, Ryan said. That’s because educators worried about chasing away too many participants.

Until now, some schools didn’t even have contracts with those students, he said. “These kids weren’t regulated at all in the past.”

Students under both contracts will have their grades reviewed at midquarter and quarter, and those failing must sit out until they bring up their grades. They can practice with the team or club, but they can’t play or perform publicly.

Those caught at parties will be suspended from the sport or activity for 14 days and can’t participate until they complete an intervention program.

Spokane coaches are nervous about what this might mean for their teams. What if a star player has to sit out a critical game?

“Usually you could have a little leeway,” said Hobbs, the North Central coach. “It worries me a lot.”

He’s planning to bring in tutors and team up smarter athletes with those who are struggling. Even teachers have offered to help after school.

“What’s really fun,” Hobbs said, “is how our faculty is now becoming part of our team.”

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