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SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA

370-Rule(3)

HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CODE

This code applies to all participants in the following arts activities: three-act play, one-act play, musicale, all forensics activities, flag squad, show choir, academic decathlon, and any arts activity so designated in the future in writing by the director of student activities.

A. ELIGIBILITY

To be a member of a performing arts activity in Grades 9-12, a student shall:

  1. be enrolled in four full courses or in a school-approved program.

  2. maintain a 2.0 grade point average for the term and be passing ALL courses at the end of that term, OR have no Ds or Fs for the term. A student regains eligibility immediately if incompletes are made up within two weeks after a grade-reporting period. 

  3. have on file in school office written evidence from parents/guardians granting permission to participate and noting understanding of this policy.

  4. have on file in school office a signed statement agreeing to abide by the rules and regulations set forth in this policy.

  5. pay a student activity fee as established by the Board of Education.

To determine eligibility, participation shall be based on the previous grading term and not on a cumulative basis.

B. RULES

To remain a member in good standing of an arts activity, during all 12 months of the year a student shall:

  1. keep from using, possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting alcoholic beverages or look-alike alcoholic beverages, or being under the influence of alcohol.

  2. keep from using (including chewing) or possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting tobacco.

  3. keep from using, possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting a controlled substance not prescribed for the student or look-alike drug or drug-related paraphernalia; or being under the influence of a controlled substance. 

  4. keep from illegally using, possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting non-prescribed anabolic steroids.

  5. keep from stealing or vandalizing athletic equipment, school property or clothing or property of other students or schools.

  6. keep from violating any other criminal law.

  7. keep from violating other rules established by the coach of the activity, provided: (a) such additional rules are approved by the director of student activities and given, in writing, to participating students and their parents/guardians, and (b) there shall be no enhanced penalty codes established by any coach relating to academic eligibility, substance abuse violations, property violations or other criminal violations.

C. VIOLATIONS

  1. Staff members, parents/guardians and students shall report violations of rules to the coach or director of student activities or principal. The coach shall assist the director of student activities or principal in investigating violations and counseling students. The director of student activities or principal shall assess the penalty called for below to the student who violates any of the rules in B above.
    a. Violations shall be counted separately within the middle and senior high schools.
    b. Violations within each category for violation (substance abuse violations, property violations, other criminal violations) shall be cumulative for  
        grades 9 through 12.
    c. Each category of violation (substance abuse violations, property violations, other criminal violations) shall be totally separate from the others for
        accumulation purposes.

  2. The term "contest" shall include a competition or performance. Any suspension that would include a portion of the contest shall include the entire contest. The term "contest" shall also include any and all performances or contests occurring on the same calendar day.

D. PENALTIES

  1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE VIOLATION. (1) keep from using, possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting alcoholic beverages or look-alike alcoholic beverages, or being under the influence of alcohol; (2) keep from using (including chewing) or possessing, selling or intending to sell, purchasing, transferring or transmitting tobacco; (3) keep from using, possessing, buying, selling or intending to sell, or transmitting a controlled substance not prescribed for the student or look-alike drug or drug-related paraphernalia; or being under the influence of a controlled substance; (4) keep from illegally using, possessing, buying, transferring or selling performance-enhancing substances.

    a. 1st Violation

    Restriction from arts activity participation for a period of 50% of the contests or performances of that arts activity. Any remaining percentage of the suspension not served shall be recalculated and applied toward the next arts activity in which the student participates. During this suspension, the student may practice, but not travel, compete nor perform with the group.

    Any student who voluntarily turns him/herself into the student activities director for the first violation only, shall have the penalty reduced by one     contest of the original amount specified by the code

    b. 2nd Violation

    Restriction from arts activity participation for a period of 100% of the contests or performances of that arts activity. Any remaining percentage of  the suspension not served shall be recalculated and applied toward the next arts activity in which the student participates. Seniors will not practice with the group. Students on restriction will not travel with the group.

    c. 3rd Violation

    Suspension from all arts activities for a 12-month period. Students will not be allowed to practice or travel with the group.

    d. 4th Violation

    Permanent suspension from all high school arts activities forever.

    For ALL substance abuse violations in which an participant is found to be in violation, he/she shall go through a chemical assessment evaluation     by the school social worker OR a trained AODA counselor (at parent expense) and follow the counselor's recommendations. Failure to comply     with the assessment and all recommended follow-up shall result in a permanent suspension from all performance activities until the student is in     compliance therewith.

  2. PROPERTY VIOLATION. Keep from stealing or vandalizing athletic equipment, school property or clothing or property of other students or schools. Appropriate authorities shall be called depending on the severity of the incident.

    a. 1st Violation

    Suspension from one contest or performance in arts activities which have one to 10 contests or performances or suspension from two contests or performances in arts activities which have 11 or more contests, plus full restitution. The disciplined student shall not travel with the team to away contests or sit on the bench without special exemption from the director of student activities. The same restriction for 12th grade participants and away contests followed for substance abuse violations will apply.

    b. 2nd Violation

    Restriction from arts activity participation for a period of 50% of the contests or performances of that arts activity. The suspension will carry over in appropriate proportion to the next arts activity participation, as in the substance abuse violation provisions, plus full restitution.  The same restriction for 12th grade students and away contests followed for substance abuse violations will apply.

    c. 3rd Violation

    Twelve-month suspension from all arts activity participation, plus full restitution.

  3. OTHER CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.

    Keep from violating any other criminal law (Felonies and misdemeanors, except minor traffic tickets).
    Suspension from one contest or performance to 12-month suspension from all arts activities, plus full restitution. Such suspension shall be assessed based upon a review by the director of student activities or principal as to, among other things, the nature of the offense(s) committed, evidence as to commission of prior criminal offenses by the student, whether there have been prior violations of any other conduct code rules other than substance abuse violations, and whether previous sanctions were imposed for violating any conduct code rules other than for substance abuse violations.

  4. CONDUCT INAPPROPRIATE FOR A STUDENT REPRESENTING MHS.

    Represent Menomonie High School to the community and general public in a manner that displays respect for self and others and reflects the standards of the school and community, including, but not limited to, knowingly hosting and/or remaining at a location where violations of the athletic code are evident.

    Suspension from one contest or performance to 12-month suspension from arts activities. Such suspension shall be assessed based upon a review by the director of student activities or principal as to, among other things, the nature of the offense(s) committed, evidence as to commission of prior criminal offenses by the student, whether there have been prior violations of any other conduct code rules, and whether previous sanctions were imposed for violating any conduct code rules.

E. SUSPENSION NOTICE AND APPEAL

Written notice of suspension shall be provided to parents/guardians by the high school administration within five (5) school days once the violation is determined to have occurred. An appeal of the suspension by the participant or parent/guardian may be made to the activities director if a request for appeal and the reasons thereof are delivered in writing to the activities office within 10 days of the date of the notice of suspension. The appeal will be heard by the high school board of review, which is comprised of one high school administrator, two out-of-season coaches, one club advisor, and one teacher (non-coach/non-advisor). The board of review shall issue a written decision on the appeal within five (5) business days of the date of their decision. An appeal of the written decision by the board of review may be made by the student or parent/guardian to the board of education if a request for appeal and the reasons therefore are delivered in writing to the district office within 10 days of the date of the decision of the board of review. The board of education will respond in writing within five business days of their decision. NOTE: If the participant has adult status with the school, all written notices will be provided to the student.

F. OTHER ITEMS

  1. Any absence during the school day of a contest or performance (except absences due to scheduled appointments or family emergencies) shall prohibit a student from participating in the contest or performance.

    NOTE: If a student is tardy more than 10 minutes, it is considered an absence.

  2. A student may not quit one arts activity and try out for another arts activity during the same sport season, except with the approval of the director of student activities and after conferring with the coaches involved.


APPROVED: February 8, 1999

REVISED: July 8, 2002
                August 8, 2005
                July 16, 2007
                May 11, 2009