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State Board to Vote on School Activities Changes

Posted on: Friday, 15 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

cbroadwater@wvgazette.com

State school board members are expected to revise West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission regulations this morning, including controversial changes in the sport of cheerleading.

The annual revisions also contain measures that will keep incidences of "school-hopping" down in state high schools, said SSAC Director Mike Hayden.

At a meeting Wednesday, Hayden told board members that high schools in the state abide by a rule that prohibits dual sports participation. Because of this, students cannot play in other sport leagues during the school season.

As cheerleading is considered a team sport in the state, the SSAC thinks it's only fair to ask cheerleaders to abide by the same rules as everyone else, he said.

But those who participate on year-round "all-star" teams that travel around the country to competitions have said they're being limited by the new rule.

Some say the change will keep them from cheering on other squads until their high school team is either eliminated from SSAC championships in November, or when the final round of state competition is done in December.

"During the competitive season we want them to stay focused on the school programs and not others," said Kelly Geddis, SSAC assistant director. "This will bring consistency with the other team sports."

Geddis said the change would encourage safety, as many cheerleaders suffer from overuse injuries outside of school practices.

The playing field also would be leveled for state cheerleaders, since all-star teams tend to have an edge over cheerleaders in more rural locals that lack the same training facilities, she said.

"We're not restricting taking gymnastics, we're just asking that they don't compete on another team," Geddis said. "It's just for the competitive season."

On Wednesday, Hayden said that changes in high school transfer rules also would keep students focused on academics. Pending the school board's vote today, students will be asked to make only out- of-district transfers during the freshman year.

Right now, students can transfer every year of high school if they want, Hayden said. Though academic reasons are cited, that's not always the case, he said.

The practice happens a lot in more metropolitan areas of the state like Charleston, he added.

"Of course, it doesn't cover people who move because they have to," he said. "But this makes sense academically. You're setting up a child to four years of schooling [during the freshman year]."

Board member Ron Spencer, who serves on the SSAC board, said that the change should cut the number of cases the activities commission investigates by half.

Next month, state school board members also are expected approve a list of recommendations aimed at reforming high school education.

On Wednesday, board members reviewed a summarized version of a report that highlights measures the state Department of Education should follow in order to maximize what students learn in high school.

Among five major proposals, suggestions include offering more relevant and rigorous courses for students, making the senior year more challenging, provide training for teachers and principals to implement changes, improve student transitioning from middle to high school, and find ways to better intervene with low-performing high schools.

Earlier this year, education officials expressed concern over the high numbers of students in remedial courses during their first year of college.

Among other goals, the task force was asked to come up with ways to not only help students do better in high school, but also in college.

A final report, which is the result of a task force appointed by former Superintendent David Stewart, will be presented to the board in August. Then they are expected to approve and begin implementing the suggestions.

Assistant Superintendent Stan Hopkins headed the task force, which was made up of leaders in business, post secondary education, superintendents, high school principals, teachers, teacher organizations, parents and state board members.

The group has worked since February researching improvements. Plans for a task force targeting the middle school education experience are also under consideration.

To contact staff writer Chandra Broadwater, use e-mail or call 348-5194.

Source: Charleston Gazette, The

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