JJIB-SPONSORSHI AND EVALUATION OF ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
File: JJIB
SPONSORSHIP AND EVALUATION OF ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
It is the MSAD #11 Board’s desire to offer students athletic programming that provides diverse, developmentally appropriate opportunities and encourages student participation. At the same time, the MSAD #11 Board recognizes that resources may not be available to fund all of the sports in which students and the community have an interest. In order to provide students with meaningful athletic experiences while maintaining high quality, sustainable programs, the MSAD #11 Board adopts this policy governing sponsorship and evaluation of the school district’s athletic programs.
Through sponsorship, the school district assumes responsibility for, and control of, a particular athletic program. Sponsorship requires MSAD #11 Board approval. The school district assumes responsibility only for those interscholastic athletic programs the MSAD #11 Board has designated as school-sponsored.
The MSAD #11 Board will approve for sponsorship only those programs that are consistent with its philosophy and policies and with regulations established by the appropriate governing bodies, including the Maine Principals’ Association (which refers to its regulations as “policies”). Sponsorship does not mean that funding will be provided in whole or in part through the school district’s budget. Sponsorship is required even for activities that may be funded in full by booster organizations.
Sponsorship is required before any team may represent itself using the school name, to be eligible for league play and tournament participation, or to be eligible for school athletic awards.
In order to assess the sustainability of athletic activities, each ongoing activity will be evaluated on at least an annual cycle.
The MSAD #11 Board establishes the following process for the approval and evaluation of athletic programs.
A. CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL AND EVALUATION OF ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
The Principal, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director shall be responsible for developing a process for evaluating potential athletic programs and assessing the viability of existing programs. The process shall take into consideration the following factors, which shall be applied consistently to all programs:
1. Student body interest;
2. Community interest;
3. Gender equity;
4. Impact on facilities;
5. Impact on existing programs;
6. Impact on administration and staff;
7. Expenses;
8. Availability of competition;
9. Potential to field competitive teams;
10. Alignment with MSAD #11 Board philosophy and policies, student/
athletic handbooks; and
11. Availability of funds, consideration of extraordinary costs (e.g., rental of facilities, transportation, specialized equipment), and other relevant data.
B. APPROVAL OF NEW ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
Sponsorship of all new interscholastic athletic programs must be approved in advance. The Superintendent shall be responsible for making and supporting recommendations to the MSAD #11 Board during the District budget process
prior to the proposed starting date. Recommendations are to be made based on data from the evaluation process.
The MSAD #11 Board may impose conditions that must be met for the program to be approved.
Following initial approval, new programs will be placed on a two-year club status. All club athletic programs must follow MSAD #11 and MPA policies.
During the District budget process, the Athletic Director must submit a report to the MSAD #11 Board including recommendations and support for continued MSAD #11 Board approval. The Board may provide for continuing approval, deny approval, or extend the probationary status for one additional year. Probationary status shall not exceed three years.
C. EVALUATION OF EXISTING OR ONGOING SCHOOL-SPONSORED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
Every athletic program will be reviewed on an annual cycle.
The purpose of evaluation is to ensure that all existing or previously approved programs continue to meet the standards and criteria established by the MSAD #11 Board.
Based upon the data, the Superintendent shall make a recommendation to the MSAD #11 Board as to whether the program should continue, be suspended for a year or deleted. The MSAD #11 Board may vote to delete any program that it deems no longer sustainable or in keeping with MSAD #11 Board philosophy, standards or criteria.
D. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
The MSAD #11 School Board may appoint a program evaluation or review committee to perform evaluations of proposed and existing athletic programs. Any such committee must have a defined purpose and balanced representation including the Superintendent and/or Athletic Director, a high school administrator, a middle school administrator, teachers who are employed as coaches, parents, students and community. Any such committee will use the process
for program evaluation.
The committee shall be advisory to the MSAD #11 Board. While it may make recommendations to the MSAD #11 Board, the MSAD #11 Board retains full authority over athletic programs.
Cross Reference: JJI—Philosophy of Athletics
JJIBA—Hiring and Evaluation of Coaches
JJIBB—Sportsmanship
JJIBC—Relations with Booster Groups (or alternative code KJA)
Adopted: November 6, 2008