[SchoolMatters] Time for an Athletics Advisory Council?

[Brian Wheeler]

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This message is not an official communication of the Albemarle County School
Board. It is a private, e-mail-only newsletter written by Brian Wheeler,
At-Large Member of the Albemarle County School Board. 
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At the May 11, 2006 Albemarle County School Board meeting, I made a
recommendation that the Board and Superintendent consider the formation of
an Athletics Advisory Council.  What follows is the memo I presented and
that everyone took under advisement.  No action was taken.

May 9, 2006

Should we have an Athletics Advisory Council?  Their charge would be to
report annually to the Superintendent on the status of athletics and
athletic facilities in the school division.  The School Board would receive
a copy of this report in much the same way we receive feedback from the
Gifted, Special Ed, Equity and Diversity, Long Range Planning, and
Technology advisory groups.

I envision this as a council that would have representation from the
following groups:

*	Athletic Directors
*	Student varsity athletes 
*	Parks & Recreation department 
*	Parents of athletes 
*	Central office staff (Facilities, PE) 
*	Others constituents (officials/referees, coaches, former coaches,
parents of graduates, booster club reps) 

Issues an advisory committee might consider and make recommendations on:

*	Identifying core principles and practices that will guide athletics
in the division.
*	Recommendations on athletic policies and codes of conduct for
coaches, students, and parents. 
*	Recommendations on training for coaches. 
*	Recommendations on athletic facilities and capital budget
priorities. 
*	Facilitate cooperative efforts between Parks & Rec and other users
of our facilities (e.g. SOCA, YMCA). 
*	Provide an avenue for parents to provide feedback via public comment
at regular committee meetings (focused on programs, facilities,
policies--not about specific employees). 
*	Virginia High School League issues and representation. 
*	Acting as a clearinghouse via a central website about opportunities
in the community for other sports activities run outside the school division
(e.g. middle school leagues). 
*	Recruiting and retention efforts for officials and coaches.
Coaching and Athletic Director evaluation procedures. 
*	Activities promoting good sportsmanship, ethics, and health and
fitness to serve student athletes. 
*	Assessing award dinner practices and seeking opportunities to
recognize students for their combined athletic and academic achievements.

In some research this week, I exchanged information with an educator in
Maine who facilitates an athletics advisory committee.  He directed me to
look at this handbook produced by the University of Maine: Sports Done
Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine's Student Athletes. See:
http://www.sportsdonerightmaine.org <http://www.sportsdonerightmaine.org/>
.  I found this to be an excellent resource.

This handbook highlights the following role for School Boards and
Administration:

*	Consistently strive to provide quality athletic programs
*	Expect student athletes to conduct themselves respectfully and
compassionately 
*	Expect coaches to provide enriching sports experiences for each
student athlete 
*	Expect parents and community members to contribute to a positive
experience for everyone

I found their outline of various core principles very helpful and this
educator in Maine told me his committee focuses on one aspect of this
handbook at each meeting.

Brian Wheeler 

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Brian Wheeler
 <mailto:bwheeler at albemarlematters.com> bwheeler at albemarlematters.com
 <http://www.wheeleronboard.com/> http://www.wheeleronboard.com
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