Board changes inclement weather policy for sports activities

GENTRY -- In a special vote, school board members approved a policy change which would allow coaches to open school athletic facilities on days school is closed because of inclement weather.

Randy Barrett, Gentry School District superintendent, shared with the board past policy changes made in 1997 and 2011. In 1997, the board policy canceled extracurricular activities on days when school was closed but gave the district superintendent the authority to open school facilities when safe to do so if the closing would cause a team to forfeit an event. In 2011, the board further restricted opening of school facilities on days when school was closed because of inclement weather.

The policy proposed by Barrett and passed by the board states: "School teams whose sport is 'in season' may be allowed to use school facilities when, depending on the reasonable availability of staff to make the facilities available, in the Athletic Director's judgment participation would pose no threat to the physical welfare of the participants due to a change in the conditions which prompted the school's closure. In such instances participation shall be voluntary and there shall be no adverse consequences for any student whose parent or guardian chooses for the student not to attend.

"Non-school groups or organizations that use school facilities on a gratis basis or fee basis may be allowed use of school facilities when the district is closed due to inclement weather conditions. However, the district does not encourage or sanction such usage and does not assume any responsibility or liability for accidents, personal injury, or property damages incurred on school property or happening during travel to and from the school site.

"Those traveling to or using school facilities during periods when school is closed at any time do so at their own discretion and at their own risk."

Arguments for and against the policy were discussed, but Barrett said the new policy would give the athletic director and coaches the responsibility to determine when it was safe to hold practices, and parents would have the responsibility to determine when it was safe for their children to attend practices.

Sports on 01/22/2014