Posted on Fri, Dec. 10, 2004
Charter students score win
Those enrolled in district-sponsored schools will get to play sports in home district if governor signs bill
By Katie Byard
A change in Ohio law approved by legislators early Thursday might make it possible for an online charter school student to swim for Akron’s Firestone High School.
State lawmakers passed an amendment to allow students such as Calvin LaVictoire, who are enrolled in district-sponsored charter schools, to take part in sports and other activities in their home district.
State Sen. Kevin Coughlin, the Cuyahoga Falls Republican who championed the amendment, said he is “near certain” Gov. Bob Taft will sign the bill.
The bill would not become law until 90 days after Taft signs it — too late for Calvin, a 15-year-old freshman, to participate in the swimming season already under way. The season ends in late February.
Coughlin cautioned that Calvin “is not home yet.” Existing state law requires a student to get permission from the district superintendent to play sports at a school outside of his attendance area.
Calvin lives in the Buchtel High School area of West Akron, but Firestone has the only swim team in the Akron district.
The superintendent “has the sole decision-making power for what building a child will play in,” Coughlin said.
Akron Superintendent Sylvester Small couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.
Calvin, who has long been on a club team that swims at Firestone, is a student at the Akron Digital Academy, an online charter school sponsored by the Akron district.
On Nov. 22, school board members turned down his request to swim for Firestone High.
In a 4-3 vote, board members chose to stick with a policy prohibiting students who don’t go to Akron Public Schools from participating in sports. Some board members expressed concern that giving Calvin permission to swim would set a precedent, allowing other charter-school students and home-schoolers to join district sports teams.
Other districts that sponsor Internet-based schools, including Canton, allow online students in those schools to participate in extracurricular activities.
Coughlin picked up Calvin’s cause and this week inserted an amendment changing the state law into a bill pending in the General Assembly.
Calvin said Thursday he wasn’t dwelling on this swimming season.
“We’re shooting for next year,” he said. “I’m happy with the law being changed and so are a few of my other schoolmates” at Akron Digital Academy.
Calvin’s father, Peter LaVictoire, also expressed satisfaction.
“It’s gratifying to know that there are public officials who pay attention to the news and if they see an injustice, set out to right it,” he said.
School board member Rebecca DiDonato Heimbaugh, who had voted against changing board policy, said that even if the bill becomes law, Calvin still must meet attendance and eligibility requirements. (Students must have a 2.0 grade average to participate in extracurricular sports.).
“There are just a number of hurdles to overcome for him to participate at this time,” she said, “and the bottom line is, it’s not law yet.”
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