2431.02 - ADDING AN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS PROGRAM

Fraser Public Schools

Bylaws & Policies

2431.02 - ADDING AN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS PROGRAM

The following criteria will be considered in depth prior to the addition of any interscholastic team sport within Fraser Public Schools:

MHSAA SANCTIONED SPORT – It must be a sport that is sanctioned (sponsored) by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), in which an end of season tournament and champion is determined by the MHSAA.

CLUB STATUS – The sport must compete at a competitive club status for (3) seasons under the direction of a district team sponsor or be a community based team. Under the club program status – program must keep records of student participation, schedule of games played, as well as club financials to be presented to the athletic department when submitting application to become recognized as a Fraser Public School Interscholastic Sport. Must be able to verify a complete roster of player names and future player names at the end of the second season. List must consist of students enrolled within Fraser Public Schools.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES – Priority will be given to those sports that best reflect the interests of male and female student/athletes.

GENDER BALANCE – Special consideration will be given to sports that will facilitate achievement of participation percentage rates that approximate the enrollment rates for males and females within the general student body so as to comply with Title IX Regulations.

THE SPORT – By it’s nature, must be a competitive athletic team activity, which requires a high level of physical conditioning, training and skill.

COMPARATIVE – The sport must be comparative to the FPS existing interscholastic team sports’ programs; i.e.: length of season, number of contests, same site team practice sessions, coach present at all practice sessions and contests and fits into a MHSAA sports season.

COMPETITION/SCHEDULING – There must be organized state MHSAA sanctioned interscholastic team competition at the league and state level.

COACHES – It will be the responsibility of the FPS Athletic Department to secure and oversee competent coaching for the program if the school district approves sanctioning of the program. Coaches salaries will reflect those salaries based on Extracurricular Salary Schedule (Schedule B) outlined in the District Contract.

GROWTH – Consideration must be given to the potential growth and sustaining of the team as an interscholastic sport.

FUNDING – Adequate district funding must be available so that the sport can be supported. Funding will not be diverted from existing Fraser Public Schools district sanctioned athletic programs to create new programs. If the district is unable to fund the proposed sport, a team sponsorship contract may be an option. This would require the sponsoring organization (parents and student/athletes) involved with the program to fund the entire program per season. The Fraser Public Schools Athletic Department would maintain implementation, supervision as well as administrative duties of the entire program.

FACILITIES – Adequate facilities must exist. It must be possible to coordinate use of facilities so as not to conflict with existing programs.

LETTER OF PETITION – At the end of the second (2^nd) season the sponsor must send a letter of petition to the Fraser Public Schools Athletic Department detailing why the sport should be given consideration to be recognized as an Interscholastic Sport within Fraser Public Schools.

All requests to add a sport must be made through the District Athletic Administration Office.

Upon recommendation from the Athletic Department, the Board of Education would take into consideration all of the above parameters in addition to the following: coaches’ salaries, equipment needs, field requirements, busing costs, supervision of events and whether the sport can be funded by the sponsoring organization (parents and student/athletes participating in the program), if Fraser Public Schools does agree to sanction the sport, but cannot allocate monies to funding of the sport program.

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

The Board of Education subscribes to the rules and regulations of the Michigan High School Athletic Association in its efforts to keep athletics on a high standard of educational values. It is the belief of the Board that the purpose of an interscholastic program is to provide the benefits of an athletic experience to as large a number of students as feasible within the district.

Interscholastic sports are sponsored and funded by Fraser Public Schools. In the event that an additional interscholastic sport seeks District sanction, the sponsoring group will be required to follow and meet District Regulation for adding a District Interscholastic Sports Program.

Additionally, should the district not be able to fund the interscholastic sports program requesting sanction, the sponsoring organization (parents/student body), shall enter into a contract/agreement with the District whereby full funding or the Interscholastic Sports Program will be provided by the sponsoring organization (parents/student body). Funding from the sponsoring organization shall be submitted through the Fraser Public Schools Athletic Department following all donation requirements. Should the sponsoring organization fail to meet the funding obligation, the sport shall be eliminated. The contract/agreement shall also stipulate among other criteria, that the District shall have complete authorization for the implementation and supervision of the District sponsored interscholastic sports program.

Adopted 6/26/17