SCHOOL BOARD TABLES SUNDAY EVENTS ISSUE

A proposal to rescind a Cape Girardeau Board of Education policy banning Sunday practices without prior board approval was tabled Monday until the February meeting.

Board members said they wanted more specific language about how decisions would be made.

Superintendent Neyland Clark brought to the board a recommendation that administrators be allowed to approve Sunday athletic practices or other school functions. The current practice is for all Sunday activities to be approved by the board.

Clark said, "A tremendous amount of deliberation went on before we brought you this policy, from the appropriateness of practices on Sunday to what is the proper amount of rest for a student involved in an activity."

He said that efforts to find the actual Sunday practice policy were unsuccessful. While board members and administrators remember such a policy, a copy of it has not been found. Two references to the policy were discovered in board minutes.

Regardless, Clark said, "It has been a practice of the board.

"We believe we have competent people who can and will exercise discretion for the well-being of the student, keeping in mind rest and the importance of family time on Sunday," Clark said.

Board member John Campbell said, "If we adopt such a policy, I think it needs to be very carefully worded, including allowable, specific times for practices."

Member Carolyn Kelley added that she too would feel more comfortable with a written policy.

Board Vice President Ed Thompson said: "We can't let the policy to be abused. A practice on Sunday is fine as long as it's the exception rather than the rule. Sunday is the last bastion of family time."

Board member Gwen Bennett questioned why a change was needed if Sunday activities are the exception and not the rule.

"Bringing the request to the board serves as an automatic assurance that it is the exception," said Bennett.

Bennett added that parents and teachers who might be affected had not been given an opportunity to give input.

Board member Lyle Davis said, "We're simply allowing the administration to make an intelligent decision."