On line petition seeking to
overturn SPUSD Board action

May 08, 2015
Santa Paula News

A movement has started on Facebook to convince the Santa Paula Unified School District Board to reconsider an action taken last month.

David Shaneyfelt on behalf of his son, Mike, a student at St. Augustine Academy in Ventura asked the SPUSD Board to allow him and any other students at St. Augustine who wished to play sports and live in Santa Paula, to be allowed to participate in Santa Paula High School’s sports program. The SPUSD board voted 3-2 at April’s meeting to reject the request.

St. Augustine is a catholic school and has no athletic program of its own.  The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) last year changed its constitution and bylaws to allow students from private schools who live in a public school district to take part in athletics at the public school. The rule change requires the student live in the CIF-Member school district, attend a school that has no athletic program, meet all CIF-Member school scholastic eligibility requirements and submit to the regular grading period of the CIF-Member school.

The petition states: “The undersigned individuals, all residents of Santa Paula, request the Santa Paula Unified School Board to reconsider its decision and that it allow St. Augustine students the opportunity to participate in SPHS athletics. The High School will benefit by the inclusion of these additional athletes. Moreover, the families of these students are taxpayers who pay for SPHS activities in general and who deserve the opportunity to benefit from their contributions.”

At the board meeting SPUSD Superintendent Alfonso Gamino said approving this could result in a Charter school or other private school seeking the same consideration. He told the younger Shaneyfelt that he was invited to attend Santa Paula High School and get involved in the athletic program. Board clerk Kelsey Stewart said she didn’t have a problem with the proposal. “I think it would be a good thing because a lot of these students have roots here and want to play with their friends,” she said. “They want to play with the kids that they grew up with.”





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