Brewer alters athletics policy Panel drops study plan for failing students, returns to earlier rules

BREWER – Students who fail to pass at least four classes will no longer be able to play sports at Brewer High School.

Before Monday, students failing multiple classes could take a mandatory study hall to become eligible to play under a program initiated two years ago.

The mandatory study hall program is not working and should end, athletic director Dennis Kiah told the Brewer school board.

“It’s really not serving the purpose,” he said. “I think we should go back to the way it was.”

Kiah said the support program is problematic because it is not well coordinated with academic and sports schedules.

The school board unanimously endorsed updating the school’s extracurricular athletic code to reflect the change.

Students who become ineligible this spring can take summer school to become eligible to play sports in the fall.

“I think this might make them study a little harder,” Kiah said.

During the meeting, the board also:

. Held the first reading for two policies, including the board’s meeting schedule for next year – which proposes holding the monthly meetings at the high school instead of a rotating location – and the school calendar for 2006. The proposed calendar has school starting on Aug. 31 for pre-kindergarten through ninth grade with high school students beginning on Sept. 1. School is scheduled to end June 13, 2006, and allots three storm days. Both policies will be considered for approval at the May 2 meeting.

. Endorsed purchasing a new middle school math program called MathScape after hearing a presentation by district math specialist Terry Hopkins, who worked with teachers and other staff to come up with the selection after months of research.

. Heard a presentation from WBRC Architects and Engineers of Bangor about renovations to the high school to add four science labs.

. Received an updated Gifted and Talented handbook and program for review. The board will consider the update at next month’s meeting.

. Accepted with regret the resignations of Elizabeth Byrum, a Brewer Middle School education technician, Laughn Drillen, high school industrial arts teacher, and Kimberly McCormick, high school food service assistant.