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Retired Marine battles for fair policy for athletes and others in school activities in Spotsylvania schools
By PAMELA GOULD As a retired Marine major, Donald Holmes understands the need for discipline and high standards. But he also believes in giving people a fair hearing and not punishing the innocent. That's why Holmes, a member of the Spotsylvania County School Board, spent the past three months pressing for a sports participation policy that addresses those issues. Monday night, he was the lone board member to vote against the policy brought forth by the school administration. "It's a cookie-cutter approach, and I think there's going to be victims," Holmes said in an interview this week. The Spotsylvania School Board began crafting a policy outlining eligibility for sports participation this spring in response to a beating incident involving nine teens, two of whom were on Courtland High School's track and field team. The situation came to light in February after the two athletes helped Courtland win the Battlefield District track and field title. The athletes were allowed to compete after they and the other seven teens were charged with malicious wounding by mob as a result of a Jan. 11 attack that left two other teens hospitalized. The attack, which was videotaped on a cell phone, occurred on a weekend off school grounds. Malicious wounding by mob is a class 3 felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Eight of the teens either already have pleaded guilty or are expected to plead to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding as part of an agreement with prosecutors. The ninth teen has asked for a full trial. NO RIGHT TO BE HEARD From the start, Holmes has urged his colleagues not to rush to judgment as a result of one incident. In fact, the board delayed its originally scheduled vote--to the chagrin of board member Ray Lora--to do further research and make revisions from the first proposal school staff provided. Holmes pressed for the policy to be expanded to apply to all students in any extracurricular activity, not just sports. He succeeded. That suggestion was incorporated into the policy that received preliminary approval at Monday night's board meeting. Holmes opposed the initial wording that denied school administrators any say in decisions about how to handle students who get into trouble.
None of this would be necessary if the school did the right thing not the easy one but then again they do like to win games
None of this would be necessary.
At least Mr. Holmes isn't in a hurry to stomp on individual rights like others who knee-jerk. The people who demand more join together in their own 'mob' to pass a rule that on the face of it sounds good, but was horribly concieved. Now someone is at least thinking about the situation...and what better way to show students about due process?
Again, thank you Mr. Holmes for not letting the mob make a bad situation worse.
If someone wants to have a matter heard by the board in a hearing setting they will do that now?
Or is it the same old sillyness.O you want a hearing you do have that right come on in to a board meeting to have your hearing but we will refuse to hear you.Tough love i guess.
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