Students in the Bristol Warren Regional School District may soon need passing grades in all their classes to participate in extra-curricular activities. The proposed handbook clause — which would affect students in all after-school activities from band to sports — would be the district's first policy enforcing academic requirements on clubs, groups and teams.

The district's only extra-curricular mandate is for athletes, where it enforces the Rhode Island Interscholastic League policy that student-athletes must pass at least 60 percent of their courses.

For the potential handbook change and three others proposed by the Bristol Warren School Committee's policy and curriculum subcommittee, there will be a public forum at the next full school committee meeting on Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Mt. Hope High School cafeteria.

Also on the table

On Monday evening, school committee policy and curriculum subcommittee chairwoman Marjorie McBride detailed three other proposed handbook changes for the 2008-09 school year. On the table for Monday's debate, she said, will also be proposed changes in the smoking policy, relative to consequences and intervention methods, and possible allowances for students to use electronic devices and wear hats, hoods and handkerchiefs in the schools.

Ms. McBride said the allowances have been brought up after numerous requests for students to be able to use cell phones and iPods and wear hats and hoods during the school day. Such privileges are prohibited in the current handbook.

The district's handbook is updated every couple years, Ms. McBride said, and the goal is to bind the policies of the elementary, middle and high schools to make students' transitions seamless.

According to school committee policy, public comment will be limited in response to the Superintendent's suggestions on the four topics.

In other news...

* On Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Mt. Hope High School, their will be a subcommittee meeting to discuss how to handle the school committee's $198,000 surplus.

Some suggestions have been a new foreign language lab and playing fields, but committee member William O'Dell said there are more options. He said it is important the committee not roll the surplus into its 2008-09 budget, because it could hurt come the next fiscal year.

Committee chairman William Estrella Jr. said the plan is to spend the money on capital projects. He urged all the members to attend Wednesday's meeting and said recommendations on how to appropriate the $198,000 will be made to Superintendent Edward Mara at the full meeting on Monday.

BY JEREMY ROSEN

jrosen@eastbaynewspapers.com