Coaches Seek Clarification of District Policy

Coaches from Capistrano Valley, Dana Hills and San Clemente high schools will meet with James A. Fleming, superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District, on Dec. 9 to get a clarification of the district’s new student participation policy.

According to Mark Thornton, Capistrano Valley basketball coach, two coaches from each of the district’s three high schools will meet with Fleming to determine what the policy means to them.

The policy, which was passed by the board of trustees Nov. 2, came in response to parents’ complaints that some athletes were either cut from teams or given only limited playing time. It reads, in part:

“It is the objective of the District that students participate fully in extra/cocurricular activities.

“Teachers, advisers and coaches should make every effort to offer, as resources allow, interested students and athletes, regardless of the degree of their ability, the opportunity to fully participate in organized extra/cocurricular school activities. When a question of participation or inclusion arises, teachers, advisers and coaches will always choose in the direction of maximizing opportunities for student involvement.”

Said Thornton: “We need him (Fleming) to tell us exactly what it means.”

Capistrano Valley’s basketball program comprises five teams, including two freshman teams, with some 75 players, according to Thornton.

“We’ve tried to go that extra mile,” he said. “It’s kind of confusing to us. We have a meeting set up with Dr. Fleming for verification of the policy. Hopefully, we’ll know more after that.”