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Home My WebLink AboutReccomending South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees Not to Lower Standards of Student-AthletesAttest. RESOLUTION 4486 -15 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 27, 15 2Q—. Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 28 15 20-. City Clerk President of Common Council Approved and signed by me v 20 IS . NJ City Clerk 0 Resolution No. I, d bqJ__ Bill No. I y A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOT LOWER THE STANDARDS OF STUDENT - ATHLETES WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND CALLS FOR THE BOARD TO NOT MOVE FORWARD ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN DOCUMENT 2431 ADDRESSING THEIR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS POLICY the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana recognizes that the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc, (IHSAA) was first organized in 1903, and is charged with encouraging and directing "wholesome amateur athletics" by: • Regulating, supervising and administering interschool athletic activities; and • Cooperating with all agencies vitally concerned with the health and educational welfare of secondary school students; and • Determining qualifications of individual contestants, coaches and officials; and • Providing written communications to facilitate athletic relations among member schools; and • Establishing standards for eligibility, competition and sportsmanship while providing protection against exploitation of schools and students; and the Common Council further recognizes that any high school in Indiana, as well as any junior high school offering 9`h grade, whether such school is public, private, institutional or parochial, if accredited by the Indiana Department of Education, may become a member of the IHSAA; and 4" the IHSAA is governed by a 19- member Board of Directors who are elected by member school principals from three (3) IHSAA legislative districts; who also comprise the IHSAA Executive Committee who meet on a monthly basis to organize & direct state tournaments and meets; to interpret By -Laws; and to determine penalties for rule violations; and the 2015 -2016 IHSAA By -Laws & Articles of Incorporation is a very detailed document which notes that "one of the purposes of the IHSAA is to assure that every student - athlete has a fair opportunity to compete "; and fie, at the City of South Bend 2016 Budget Kickoff held at the Century Center on May 28, 2015, Council Member Karen L. White, Personnel and Finance Committee Chairperson, talked about "What makes a great city ". She highlighted many key factors such as that "cities are about people and the quality of life for its citizens "; that "a truly great city needs to be an appealing place to live. It needs to attract and retain a large pool of local, national and international talent'; and that "strong neighborhoods make strong cities" with educational opportunities and standards being a component part; and Resolution Addressing Interscholastic Athletics Policy Page 2 the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) Board of Trustees is currently considering whether to lower the academic eligibility requirements for middle school and high school student athletes which were established approximately five (5) years ago, and is scheduled to be voted upon by the Board at their August 3, 2015 meeting; and 4" the SBCSC's current policy requires a 2.0 grade point average for all student - athletes in grades 6 through 12, and the proposal being considered by the school board would permit the following students to participate: 9th grade students with a 1.50 grade point average 10th grade students with a 1.67 grade point average 11th grade students with a 1.85 grade point average 12th grade students with a 2.00 grade point average with students who do not meet the district's requirement but who would qualify under the IHSAA guidelines being able to participate if such students are tutored and show improvement; and the Common Council believes that everyone has a stake and a role in continuing to build the City of South Bend, Indiana, into a great city, which requires setting the bar high and focusing on helping students, and especially student - athletes meet and exceed high expectations; and the Common Council further believes that the proposed policy fails to meet the grade in promoting the youth of our community to be the best that they can be, whether it be in the classroom or in the athletic arenas or athletic fields. Y r i r r, :, r i,r Z r r Vr r V r r r V r r r r r r r Section I. The South Bend Common Council believes that much more dialogue, collaboration, and outreach needs to take place before the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees takes action to proceed ahead on August 3, 2015 — which is just a few days before the first day of school [August 18 1h3, on any proposed changes to the current interscholastic athletic policy. Section II. The Common Council further believes that a policy of this nature deserves enhanced public input and the greatest degree of transparency possible. Section 111. The Common Council calls upon the South Bend Community School Corporation to have a series of community outreach meetings, at locations throughout the City, so that as many members of the public as possible have the opportunity to have their voice heard. Resolution Addressing Interscholastic Athletics Policy Page 3 Section IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. i. Office of the City Clerk ??; C. Henry Davis, Jr., 2n3T5_istrie_PC ncil Member South Bend Common Council Derek D. Dieter, Council Member at Large South Bend Common Council Vice - President U Valerie Schey, 3ra District Council Membet South Bend Common Council ,. Pete Bend Filed in r-iprk's Office „!;! L 7015 JOHi3 4456FQi: CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 15 -74 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOT LOWER THE STANDARDS OF STUDENT - ATHLETES WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND CALLS FOR THE BOARD TO NOT MOVE FORWARD ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN DOCUMENT 2431 ADDRESSING THEIR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS POLICY Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill is being recommended to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. This bill was heard by the Community Relations Committee. Karen L. White Chairperson, Committee of the Whole (574) 235 -9321 July 22 2015 Members of the Common Council 4" Floor County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Dear Council Members: jt,tTN At; 4. 4� INS Common Council City of South Bend Indiana 4'h Floor County -City Building 227 West Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 235 -9173 Facsimile (574)235 -5567 TTY /TDD We are all dedicated to working to make the City of South Bend the greatest city it can be. That is why we have filed the attached Resolution. It calls for the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees to step back and let the voices of the citizens of South Bend be heard, before that Board takes any action in changing their Interscholastic Athletics Policy. Competition, both in the classroom and in athletics, brings out the best in individuals. That is why the term "student- athlete" is the focus of the guidelines established by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc, (IHSAA). We call upon the South Bend Community School Corporation to reach out to our entire community before taking formal action to lower bar for our students We ask that this Resolution be referred to the Council's Community Relations Committee for review and a favorable recommendation. Thank you. Most sincer Cou m s, Jr, 2 "d District Council Member Derek D. Dieter Attachment vj_g_� <E%" Council Member Valerie Schey Iffice �w::^f i'„k,fl3ir i3t7i411.... , ,A9