Community High students to be included in athletics at Lapeer East, Lapeer West

LAPEER — The Lapeer East and Lapeer West high school athletic teams could get an unexpected source of new athletes after the Lapeer Community Schools board of education approved Lapeer Community High students’ participation on athletic teams at its January meeting.

“The recommendation by (Supt. Matt) Wandrie and approval by our board is very exciting and adds a critical motivating component to the alternative program at Community High School,” said principal Kevin Walters. “This opportunity speaks to the commitment of the district to being a district of choices for all Lapeer Community Schools students.”

“As a District, we believe that participation in sports serves to enhance the overall classroom experience,” said Matt Wandrie, LCS Superintendent. “Community High School students deserve the same extra-curricular opportunities afforded to all our students, and I hope that many take advantage of it.”

Walters noted that Community High School students will now have an opportunity to enhance their educational experience by participating in athletic opportunities.

“As we know, extra-curricular participation brings about a sense of commitment and dedication beyond the activities in the classroom or building,” Walters said. “Although athletic participation is the focus of this topic, exciting steps in other areas were initiated this past fall with Mr. Hundt (Lapeer West Band Director), who allowed two Community High School students with an interest to participate in the Lapeer West Marching Band. Again, it is about opportunities. This opportunity also allows the struggling student-athlete, previously unwilling to make a decision to enroll in an alternative learning program that may impact them positively from an educational standpoint, to avoid being forced to balance that critical educational decision against giving up the benefits of participating in athletics.”

Although the survey numbers have not yet been completed as far as how many students would now take part at Lapeer East and West, the numbers could be significant.

“Community High School did a survey of students currently in grades 9- 11 that would be eligible to participate,” Walters said. “We have not followed up with a defined interest survey, as it was appropriate for the district and Board of Education to work through the process. We plan on identifying a more appropriate figure in the next few weeks to allow for effective communication.”

Walters and Mary Haslinger, athletic director at Lapeer West, explained that the students from Lapeer Community High School would simply be eligible to join athletic teams at the school they attended before they entered Lapeer Community High School, or will be assigned based on the building they reside currently geographically. As with all high school students, grades, attendance and any disciplinary violations will be accounted for as far as eligibility each semester. The soonest the new athletes would be allowed to join the current East and West teams would be Fall of 2012 per Michigan High School Athletic Association rules and enrollment numbers. Students also would have to get themselves to practices just as their on-campus counterparts are now required. Transportation is not an issue or additional cost to the district, as the Community High School students are bused back to the Lapeer East and West every day after classes.

“We are excited about this opportunity and believe it is another example of the student-centered approach to all students that makes LCS great,” Walters added.