Pubdate: Thu, 13 Apr 2006
Source: York Weekly (NH)
Copyright: 2006 Seacoast Online
Contact:  http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/yorkweekly/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2234
Author: Adam Leech
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PHS LETS CONVICTED TEEN PLAY

PORTSMOUTH - A Portsmouth High School student walked out of court 
Monday with a prison sentence and walked onto the baseball field 
later that day.

Matthew Anderson, a 17-year-old junior, pleaded guilty to conspiracy 
to sell marijuana charges at Portsmouth District Court on Monday and 
will serve a week in jail this summer. Later that evening, he struck 
out four batters in two hitless innings, helping the Clippers close 
out a 6-3 season-opening win over Pinkerton Academy.

This came four months after the School Board voted to cancel the high 
school swim team's season in the aftermath of a swim-a-thon 
fund-raiser when some of the 43 students on the team drank alcohol.

Board Chairman Kent LaPage said Tuesday the board is aware of 
Anderson's situation and is standing by the administration's decision 
to allow Anderson to stay on the team.

"There's a lot of things involved in this. They are two very separate 
instances," said LaPage. "The administration has informed the board 
on this, and the administration has gone forth with what they believe 
is the proper action."

LaPage said the timing of Anderson's arrest played a role in the 
decision.  What do you think? Post your comments here! Do you think 
the school's decision to cancel the swim team's season and allow 
Matthew Anderson to play baseball is hypocritical? Should the 
contract be changed?

The Student-Athlete/Parent Expectations contract - the document that 
provided the grounds to cancel the swim team season - states 
student-athletes will refrain from "use or possession of illegal 
drugs" and "intentionally being in the presence of the illegal use of 
drugs or alcohol."

However, a clause in the preceding paragraph states "these 
expectations are in effect at all times throughout the season."

Anderson was arrested on March 8. Monday's game was the first of the season.

LaPage would not comment on whether the school took any disciplinary 
action against Anderson.

Administrators were criticized heavily by parents after the swim team 
decision was handed down. Some thought canceling the season for the 
entire team was too harsh, while others thought the student-athlete 
contract was not used properly.

The board punished the entire swim team because a majority of 
students were either drinking or knew others were drinking and didn't 
report them, both of which violate the school's athletic contract. 
The incident occurred during the swim season.

Anderson conspired with a classmate when he discussed the quality of 
marijuana being sold to an informant under the direction of the 
Portsmouth Police Department, according to a police complaint.

In addition to the jail time, Anderson was fined $1,000, with all of 
it suspended, pending one year of good behavior. He was also ordered 
to one year of probation, including random drug tests.

ON THE NET

To view the Portsmouth High School Student-Athlete/Parent 
Expectations form in its entirety, visit 
www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/phs/athletic/psape-form.pdf
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman