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