OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Shawnee Mission Schools have one of the toughest conduct policies for extra curricular activities.
Students and their parents have to sign contracts stating they understand the student faces severe consequences if they violate the rules on tobacco and alcohol use.
But are those consequences fair?
The parents of a starting basketball player and honor roll student say their son deserves another chance. But other parents believe it could do him more harm than good, and set a bad example for the rest of the students.
When Russell Haas signed up for basketball at Shawnee Mission South High School, he knew the rules. But he broke them -twice.
Now the closest Russell can come to getting into a game is watching the Raiders play from a seat in the bleachers.
Russell’s dad, Dan Haas thinks that is unfair.
“I think to remove a kid from his entire senior year of extra curricular activities is about the harshest punishment you can give a high school student,” Dan said.
Russell’s first punishment came when police caught him drinking at a party last February.
“A typical teenage party, when the parents were gone and somebody had teenager over,” Dan said.
Dan also added that while most of the kids who ran from police didn’t get arrested, his son obeyed the officers and ended up in the Johnson County Juvenile court system.
According to the district policy and contract, Russell was kicked off the basketball team for the rest of the season.
One might think he had learned his lesson. But he didn’t.
Just three months later, Russell threw his own party that included alcohol, when his dad was gone. Concerned neighbors called the police.
“Why did he do that?” “That’s a question I will be asking myself for a long time,” Dan said. “I imagine he will be asking himself the same thing.”
The second offense ended Russell’s basketball days in the Shawnee Mission School District. The contract says that is the penalty for two infractions according to Leigh Ann Neal, the spokesperson for the district.
Russell’s parents have been appealing the decision since it came down, even taking the case to court, where Dan says a judge was sympathetic, but did not have jurisdiction to make a ruling.
Dan believes the system needs to show some mercy.
“There’s no place for redemption here.”
But other parents say redemption isn’t the issue.
Sherry Bryant is a graduate of the district, a former employee and a mother of a student, a boy, who also attends Shawnee Mission South, likes the policy just the way it is.
“I do not think the policy is too strict,” she said. “Being on a team or choir or band is a privilege because it represents the school.”
Bryant says she believes in the policy no matter whose child it is.
“If it was my child I would definitely stand behind the policy and help that child understand the consequence he has to face.”
Bryant said underage drinking is a huge problem that puts teenage lives at risk, and must be caught early, before the student goes to college.
Russell’s dad agrees with that, but he believes his son would have a better chance of success by staying involved in the sport he loves.
