PROCEDURES FOR RULE INFRACTION

Student Attendance Rules – A student must be in school the entire day in order to participate in games or practices on that day. Students should make every attempt to satisfy this rule, but it is understood that there will be exceptions. Acceptable exceptions are:

A completed prior excuse form on file in the office.
A signed statement from a doctor verifying an appointment.
A phone call or e-mail to the school attendance secretary or appropriate office staff from a parent/guardian or emancipated student prior to the student’s absence.
As approved by the Athletic Director or building Administration.

Academic Standards – Participation in athletics requires successful performance in academics. The academic standards place proper emphasis on student achievement in the classroom to maintain eligibility.

Preceding semester grades: The WIAA requires that each participant pass a minimum of five (5) full-time subjects to be eligible for competition the following semester. Each participant who fails to make this requirement shall be placed on probation during the first five (5) weeks of the succeeding semester for High School and the first three (3) weeks for Junior High, and shall be ineligible during this time.
Current grades: The Mount Baker School District and the WIAA require each participant to be a full-time student and to maintain passing grades in all assigned classes to remain eligible during the current semester. Participants will be monitored every 1-2 weeks, according to the preset grade check schedule. Eligibility for all participants will be determined as follows:
- Each participant is eligible providing they are passing all classes.
- Each participant receiving at least one (1) failing grade in a class at the end of a 1-2 week period will be put on academic probation in that class and will have 1-2 weeks in which to bring up the grade to passing. Students will be notified by their counselor, coach, or the Athletic Director.
- Each participant receiving a failing grade in a class after a 1-2 week probation period will be suspended from participating in games or events until the academic situation is rectified and the student is passing. The participant’s parent or guardian will be notified of such suspension.
- A student is eligible to come off the suspended list as soon as they are passing. In this case, the Athletic Director or an administrator must have confirmation from the teacher in whose class the student was failing.

Use of Illegal Substances – The Mount Baker School District recognizes that chemical dependency is a serious illness and the use of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, controlled substances and other drugs, including inhalants, is a violation of the law. Athletes are advised not to be present more than five (5) minutes at any function where alcohol and/or illegal drugs are involved. The Principal or designee will implement the following disciplinary action as a result of a participant’s offense for use, consumption, possession or sale of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia and exceptional misconduct. NOTE: The substance abuse offenses will accumulate throughout the students high school career and disciplinary action will be based on the number of cumulative offenses, not just on the offenses during a given year.

Possession and or Use of Tobacco, Alcohol, Drug Paraphernalia, and Exceptional Misconduct
- First offense during high school – (1) During an athletic season and up until the last contest in that sport, the participant will be suspended for twenty-one (21) (Ten (10) days for tobacco) sport season days (excluding non-competition or non-practice days) from participating in any game, performance, contest, competition or event, and from practice for half of the days of the suspended period. (2) If suspension is due to alcohol during the twenty-one days, the student must complete an assessment with an approved Intervention Specialist and if counseling is recommended be properly scheduled to attend an Alcohol Education Insight class.
- Second offense during high school – (1) Suspension for twenty-one (21) sport season days (could extend into the following season). (2) The student will be required, at own expense, to submit to an evaluation by an approved community agency or individual to be completed within ten (10) school days from the time of the incident. The student must complete the evaluation and comply with the recommendations prior to participating in any game, performance, contest, competition or event in the next athletic season. Written verification or compliance with results and recommendations will be provided to school authorities.
- Third offense during high school – Suspension from participating in all athletic programs within Mount Baker School District for the remainder of the student’s high school career. A student who has completed an approved treatment program and provides recommendation from that treatment program will be given favorable consideration in an appeal for reinstatement of eligibility. This appeal must be submitted in writing to the school principal.

Illegal Drugs and Controlled Substances – Penalties for the possession, use or sale of drugs (drugs obtained through prescription, RCW 69.41.020-050) and controlled substances (RCW 69.50) shall be as follows:

1st Violation – A participant shall be immediately ineligible for interscholastic competition in the current interscholastic sports program for the remainder of the season. Ineligibility shall continue until the next sports season in which the participant wishes to participate unless the student accesses the assistance program outlined (below.)
An athlete that is found to be in violation of WIAA Rule 18.26.2 (Legend drugs and controlled substances) shall have two options:
1. The athlete will be ineligible for participation in contests for the remainder of that interscholastic sports season and must meet with the school administration in order to be eligible to compete in the next interscholastic sports season. The school principal will have the final authority regarding the student’s participation in further interscholastic sports programs.
2. The athlete may choose to seek and receive help for a problem with use of legend drugs or controlled substances. Successful utilization community assistance programs may allow him/her to have eligibility reinstated in that athletic season, pending recommendation by the school administration.
2nd Violation – A participant who again violates any provision of RCW 69.41.020 through 69.41.050 or of RCW 69.50 shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of the second violation.
3rd Violation – A participant who violates for a third time RCW 69.41.020 - 69.41.050 or of RCW 69.50 shall be permanently ineligible for interscholastic competition.
Self report of violations and/or cooperation with School Personal – Up to fourteen (14) days of the twenty-one (21) calendar day suspension may be waived for “first time” violations when the violation is voluntarily reported by the student or the parent/guardian to the coach or an administrator, by the end of the next school day or the student cooperates with School Personal. The Principal or Athletic Director will be informed immediately. For tobacco, up to five (5) of the ten (10) days may be waived. The violation is still considered a first offense.

Mount Baker SD #507