LIVERMORE FALLS — A major issue the RSU 73 School Board must tackle this year is the requirements needed to participate in sports and other co-curricular activities.

Board member Tammy Dwinal-Shufelt argued at last week’s board meeting that students must be accountable for their grades.

She also wants the 10-day probationary period taken out of the current policy.

Under that policy, students must be passing a minimum of six classes to play.

“Practices take the most time away from studies, not games,” she said.

Spruce Mountain High School North Principal Gilbert Eaton said the probationary period is a time when students who aren’t passing the required six courses may attend practices but not put on the uniform.

He believes students should be given a chance to bring up their grades.

“How do you give a kid a fresh start?” he said.

Jay representative Dan DiPompo believes the current policy is too loose, while Livermore representative Cindy Young wants a requirement calling for passing six core courses in order for the student to participate.

“We need to revisit the entire policy,” Superintendent Robert Wall said.

Eaton said the current policy was new at the beginning of the previous school year. Prior to that, students were required to be passing all classes in order to participate.

Spruce Mountain High School South Principal Steve Leunig said he was also concerned about the number of classes that students are failing.

“I want to see some language that constitutes ineligibility,” he said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce asked the two principals to look at their respective policies, then report their findings to the board’s Policy Committee.

She also wants the new policy to include language that addresses extenuating circumstances for students.

The committee has scheduled a meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, to work on the policy.

Findings will go before the entire board sometime in the fall.