School board continues discussion on student athlete GPA requirements

South Bend School Board members are pushing for lower GPA requirements as a way of keeping more athletes in their sports and possibly out of trouble.

Monday night the South Bend School Board will meet to discuss lowering the requirements for student athletes for a second time. 

Since 2011 the GPA requirement for student athletes from sixth grade to 12th has been at least a 2.0 GPA.

Last week, the South Bend Common Council passed a resolution to recommend the school board keep the student athletic GPA standard as is.

The Common Council's resolution is only a recommendation and the official decision is up to the South Bend School Board.   

The board wants to create a different set of standards for students depending on their grade. 

Freshman will have to maintain at least a 1.5 grade point average, sophomores at least a 1.67, juniors a 1.85,  and seniors at least a 2.0.

These standards are in addition to the Indiana High School Athletic Association standards in place for student athletes all across Indiana. The IHSAA requires students to pass 70% of their courses.

The changes in the bylaws would add that if students still can’t meet the lower GPA standards then they must attend weekly tutoring sessions. Attending study tables to get their grades up would allow participation in their sport. 

Monday’s school board meeting will review these changes in a second reading.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the South Bend Community School Corporation Administration Building. The meeting is open to the public.