School Committee opens district sports to homeschooled students

ATHOL -- The Athol School Committee voted Oct. 21 to approve a new policy, brought forward by a parent, allowing non-enrolled resident students, including those who are homeschooled or virtual-schooled, to participate in district extracurricular activities.

HIGH SCHOOL -- Committee members said the policy was developed with input from the district's athletic director and former athletic director Dave King. Participation for non-enrolled students will be permitted through eighth grade; at the high school level, MIAA regulations do not allow certain subsets of students in the district to participate, officials said. The committee noted that homeschooled and virtual-schooled students are not counted for per-pupil state funding. The policy passed its first reading with the second and third readings waived, then was approved by vote.

At the same meeting, Athol High School recognized its scholar athletes for the period: Evan Key and Dennis Estrada were named the school's top scholar athletes. The high school also presented its first-ever "Difference Maker of the Week" award to administrative assistant Jen Zanga.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.