WEBVTT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC CAREERS. SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC CAREERS GOING UP IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE. FOR SIX SAUGUS LACROSSE PLAYERS HERE IN THE WHITE JERSEYS AND FOR ONE BASEBALL PLAYER WHO ALL ALLEGEDLY SMOKED CIGARS AFTER THEIR GRADUATION ON FRIDAY. >> IT'S UPSETTING FOR THE SAY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL. REPORTER: SUPERINTENDENT SAYS PHOTOS OF THE STUDENTS SMOKIN CIGARS CIRCULATED ONLINE AS WELL AS A LOCAL NEWSPAPER. EVEN THOUGH THE STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE GRADUATED, THE STILL MUST COMPLY BY MIAA RULES PROHIBITING THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. >> ATHLETES ARE STILL ELIGIBLE UNTIL THE VERY LAST ATHLETIC EVENT. REPORTER: AS A RESULT, THE LACROSSE PLAYERS MISS TONIGHT'S PLAYER WILL MISS THE LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME OF THE YEAR. THIS SITUATION IS UNIQUE BECAUSE ARE USUALLY OVER BY GRADUATION, BECAUSE OF KNOW? -- BECAUSE OF SNOW DAYS IN MARCH. >> IT ALL DEPENDS WHEN YOU GRADUATE YOUR KIDS. SO THERE MAY BE HIGH SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVEN'T HAD THEIR COMMENCEMENT YET BUT WE DID. REPORTER: SOME PARENTS CLAIM THERE WERE MANY SENIORS SMOKING CIGARS AND THAT THE STUDENT ATHLETES ARE BEING UNFAIRLY PUNISHED. >> WHY CAN'T THEY LET LOOSE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T GOING TO HURT ANYBODY? >> IT'S A TRADITION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AT THE SCHOOL FOR YEARS WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED. I FEEL LIKE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE GOING TO ENFORCE THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE STUDENTS AHEAD OF TIME. REPORTER: THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO PUNISH NONSTUDENT ATHLETES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMITMENTS THE SUPERINTENDENT ADDED THE DECISION WAS MADE TO SUSPEND THE ATHLETES BECAUSE IF THEY HAD PLAYED T
Saugus High School student-athletes suspended from postseason for smoking cigars
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Updated: 7:54 PM EDT Jun 4, 2018
Six Saugus High School lacrosse players and one baseball player have been suspended from participating in tournament games for smoking cigars on graduation day, Wicked Local Saugus reported.School Committee member Liz Marchese said that the postseason suspensions were handed down to at least six lacrosse players and one baseball player. She added that those were the seven Saugus High School graduates she knows had disciplinary action taken against them and that there might be more student-athletes who were punished.Numerous members of the Saugus High School Class of 2018 lit up cigars at the conclusion of the graduation ceremony on Friday night at Stackpole Field.The Saugus Public Schools has a tobacco-free school policy that reads in part, “The Saugus Public Schools, in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Educational Reform Act of 1993, Chapter 71, Section 37H, prohibit the use of any tobacco product within the school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses, or at any school-sponsored event. For the purpose of this policy, tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff. This prohibition extends to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Visitors include anyone not in the employ of the Saugus Public Schools, including delivery personnel, and anyone contracting with the school department to use the building. The consequences for violating this policy will be as follows for the different groups: student violations: student violations of the tobacco uses policy will be handled in accordance with the discipline code published in the student agenda books at each academic level.”A rule in effect for Saugus High School stipulates that student-athletes are to refrain from being anywhere drugs, alcohol or tobacco may be in the vicinity. A violation is defined by the use, possession or being in the presence of drugs, alcohol or tobacco.This chemical health rule extends from the first allowable day of fall practice through the end of the academic year or the final athletic competition of the year, whichever is later.For a first violation of the drug/alcohol/tobacco rule, the penalty is as follows, “When the principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred, that student shall lose eligibility in accordance of the MIAA policy. Students found in violation of ’being in the presences of; will be suspended for two weeks of a season in which the student is a participant. No exception is permitted for a student who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation.”The suspended lacrosse players will miss a North Division 3 first round game scheduled against Pentucket Regional High School on June 4, Marchese confirmed.The Advertiser reached out to several school administrators for specifics on the suspensions but didn’t immediately hear back.Marchese said that the events and subsequent disciplinary action taken against Saugus High School student-athletes involved in postseason tournament play following graduation night are saddening for all involved.“We are all responsible to some degree and fingers cannot be pointed at just one individual,” Marchese said in a statement emailed to the Advertiser. “For years, the smoking of the traditional ‘cigar’ has been allowed and overlooked at graduation. By our tacit allowance, we as a whole have sent mixed messages to our students that there will be no consequence. That was wrong and unfair. What should have been a celebration of the culmination of their years as Sachem students will now forever be marred. I know in my heart there was no mal intent to break rules but only to celebrate their years of accomplishment with family and friends. I believe that sometimes we have to look at the purpose or intent behind a rule to really see if a rule was broken or not. Regrettably, this whole situation could have been avoided had an email been sent or announcement been made prior to the commencement of graduation ceremonies reminding everyone of the tobacco use policy, especially in light of past practices. I am confident that in the future there will be no gray area and this will never happen again.”
Six Saugus High School lacrosse players and one baseball player have been suspended from participating in tournament games for smoking cigars on graduation day, Wicked Local Saugus reported.
School Committee member Liz Marchese said that the postseason suspensions were handed down to at least six lacrosse players and one baseball player. She added that those were the seven Saugus High School graduates she knows had disciplinary action taken against them and that there might be more student-athletes who were punished.
Numerous members of the Saugus High School Class of 2018 lit up cigars at the conclusion of the graduation ceremony on Friday night at Stackpole Field.
The Saugus Public Schools has a tobacco-free school policy that reads in part, “The Saugus Public Schools, in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Educational Reform Act of 1993, Chapter 71, Section 37H, prohibit the use of any tobacco product within the school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses, or at any school-sponsored event. For the purpose of this policy, tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff. This prohibition extends to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Visitors include anyone not in the employ of the Saugus Public Schools, including delivery personnel, and anyone contracting with the school department to use the building. The consequences for violating this policy will be as follows for the different groups: student violations: student violations of the tobacco uses policy will be handled in accordance with the discipline code published in the student agenda books at each academic level.”
A rule in effect for Saugus High School stipulates that student-athletes are to refrain from being anywhere drugs, alcohol or tobacco may be in the vicinity. A violation is defined by the use, possession or being in the presence of drugs, alcohol or tobacco.
This chemical health rule extends from the first allowable day of fall practice through the end of the academic year or the final athletic competition of the year, whichever is later.
For a first violation of the drug/alcohol/tobacco rule, the penalty is as follows, “When the principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred, that student shall lose eligibility in accordance of the MIAA policy. Students found in violation of ’being in the presences of; will be suspended for two weeks of a season in which the student is a participant. No exception is permitted for a student who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation.”
The suspended lacrosse players will miss a North Division 3 first round game scheduled against Pentucket Regional High School on June 4, Marchese confirmed.
The Advertiser reached out to several school administrators for specifics on the suspensions but didn’t immediately hear back.
Marchese said that the events and subsequent disciplinary action taken against Saugus High School student-athletes involved in postseason tournament play following graduation night are saddening for all involved.
“We are all responsible to some degree and fingers cannot be pointed at just one individual,” Marchese said in a statement emailed to the Advertiser. “For years, the smoking of the traditional ‘cigar’ has been allowed and overlooked at graduation. By our tacit allowance, we as a whole have sent mixed messages to our students that there will be no consequence. That was wrong and unfair. What should have been a celebration of the culmination of their years as Sachem students will now forever be marred. I know in my heart there was no mal intent to break rules but only to celebrate their years of accomplishment with family and friends. I believe that sometimes we have to look at the purpose or intent behind a rule to really see if a rule was broken or not. Regrettably, this whole situation could have been avoided had an email been sent or announcement been made prior to the commencement of graduation ceremonies reminding everyone of the tobacco use policy, especially in light of past practices. I am confident that in the future there will be no gray area and this will never happen again.”
