The Troy School Board at its Monday meeting approved changes to the district’s training and eligibility rules, allowing more flexibility and falling in line with competing schools.

In a 5-1 vote, with Sylvia Maffit opposing, the board passed the measure, which was proposed by athletic director Rich McElmurry and the coaching staff.

“If a kid makes a mistake, it (the new rules) gives them a chance to redeem themselves a little bit, other than throw them out into the world,” McElmurry said. “That’s kind of old-fashioned now.”

Troy’s training and eligibility rules were the strictest ones that McElmurry could find. He and the coaching staff based the new rules on guidelines followed in other districts. He believes they will keep the school competitive and represent what is best for students.

The old rules dictated that an athlete or club member who violated the drug and alcohol contract would be suspended from the activity for the remainder of the season. It also banned a student from activities for the remainder of the semester if the student failed any class.

The new rules call for suspending alcohol or drug offenders from extracurricular activities for one week on the first offense. On the second offense, the suspension increases to three weeks and the student must take a 10-hour drug and alcohol intervention course. The third offense bans the offender from all activities for the remainder of the year.

If a student fails a class, but still retains a 2.0 grade point average, he or she is now allowed to continue participating in activities, but must go to study sessions such as receiving after-school help or taking a study hall.   

The notion of having less stringent training and eligibility rules was first brought to the board four or five years ago, according to superintendent Brady Selle. There were two camps of thought.

“One group said a contract is a contract,” Selle said. “The other side said, ‘Hey, we’re an educational institution and we need to recognize that kids make mistakes.’”

The new rules represent the minimum standard for all sports and clubs. Some clubs must have more stringent rules as part of a national charter.

In other news from Monday’s meeting:

• The board announced that an anonymous donor chipped in the remaining $7,000 needed to resurface the district’s tennis courts. The booster club raised $3,000 for the project and county parks agreed to pay $10,000. Advantage Tennis Courts out of Libby will resurface the courts sometime in mid-August.

• The board hired Michael Adams to fill the high school music teacher position. Adams will also teach fifth- and sixth-grade band, reviving the program after a two-year hiatus.