School board addresses conflict between athletics and religion
District will allow voluntary practices to be held next year

A policy regarding practice on religious holidays will not change for Simi Valley athletic teams this spring, but there will be a change made for the next school year.

The Simi Valley school board decided Tuesday to keep its rule not allowing athletic teams to schedule practice on religious holidays in place for the remainder of the school year, but in 2008-09, the district will allow teams to conduct voluntary practices on holidays.

School board members said they will monitor the situation for one year to ensure students who don't practice on voluntary days will not be punished or chastised by coaches or teammates.

The district's holiday practice policy, which has been in effect for the last two years, primarily affected fall teams on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

This year, Rosh Hashanah fell on Sept. 13, a Thursday, and the Simi Valley High School football team couldn't practice the day before a game against Pacifica of Oxnard despite the fact that only one player on the team was Jewish.

The parent of the Jewish player spoke out against the policy at a board meeting, saying the whole team shouldn't be punished for his son's religious beliefs.

As it was, the Pioneers lost the game they were favored to win, falling 17-14 to Pacifica. Royal High School's football team lost 35-0 at Oak Park the day after Rosh Hashanah.

"We will conduct research regarding practices and monitor it for one year," said Superintendent Kathryn Scroggin. "This practice was in place years ago and we will reinstitute the practice of voluntary practice."

- Eliav Appelbaum