Weldon City Schools Board of Education Chair Pattie Cotton tonight clarified a proposed academic policy discussed at a forum last week.

“Never has this board made any suggestion to do away with sports,” she told the board. “We’re concerned about serving every child in the Weldon schools. We’re not going to do anything detrimental to students we serve.”

She said everyone interested in the policy must do whatever they can to improve student performance. “We found out everyone doesn’t agree students should pass every course.”

Saying that, Cotton told board members a committee would be formed to address the proposal and after the draft proposal is approved it would be up for review for 30 days. A pubic hearing will be held.

The policy discussed last week would mandate all students who participate in extracurricular activities maintain a passing grade in all classes.

Now the board will consider a policy which requires students to pass all classes regardless of a student’s activities. “If you play in the band this is what you’re going to do. If you’re in dramatics or battle of the books, it’s all inclusive,” Cotton said following the meeting.

She said the school system monitors teachers. The school system holds the superintendent accountable. “The board has to be accountable. The students should be held accountable.”

While Cotton said she hoped the policy would be in place by the start of school, that will now be delayed, perhaps until the second semester.

Currently, the district complies with polices set forth by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association website states, “A student must have passed a minimum load of work during the preceding semester to be eligible at any time during the present semester.

“The semester is normally considered half of the academic year. All students must also meet local promotion standards.”

A minimum load is defined as five courses in the traditional school schedule and three courses for schools on the block format.

If the school is on an A/B form of block scheduling, a student must pass six of eight courses during what would traditionally be defined as a semester.