The Escambia School District is reviewing procedures for student athlete transfers in the wake of a controversy at Escambia High School.

Willie Spears, popular and much-in the community as a role model, was fired by the district from his teaching position following an investigation that detailed recruiting violations that Spears committed.

By news release this morning, the district said it will provide additional training opportunities for coaches and parents on Florida High School Athletic Association rules.

Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the action stems from the Spears incident, it will benefit athletic programs across the county.

“When an event occurs that causes this much heartache and impacts so many students and faculty at one of our schools, it becomes our responsibility to take time to examine the situation to understand what can be learned, and make determinations to prevent reoccurrences in the future,” Thomas said.

“All reported incidents about student athletes who have transferred high schools are being thoroughly reviewed,” Thomas said. “There will be consistency in enforcement of the FHSAA rules.”

Thomas said that all complaints regarding recruiting violations and transfers will be examined. If an investigation yields evidence of rule violations, self-reporting to the FHSAA will be required by the offending school.

In the meantime, training will be increased for athletic directors and coaches regarding FHSAA rules and procedures, Thomas said.

“The district will make a request for the FHSAA to utilize their expertise to facilitate training for all of our district coaches, whether they are new or veterans.”

Athletic directors from all area high schools provided input into the development of new standard operating procedures for the reinstatement of a transfer student’s athletic eligibility. The new procedures began implementation in August 2014.

An important change is the creation of a District Student Athlete Eligibility Review committee. The committee reviews requests and determines athletic eligibility for transferring student athletes. This increases consistency and removes the burden from individual schools, thereby reducing the amount of responsibility placed on athletic directors for transfer issues.

“By establishing this committee, students and parents will be able to submit a transfer review request form and receive a determination of whether the student athlete is eligible to play at their new school. Once that student’s eligibility has been reinstated by the committee, the student, parents and coaches will have the confidence that the transfer meets FHSAA requirements,” Thomas said.

An FHSAA information session will be offered for parents and guardians of student athletes to understand the rules, regulations, and procedures that could affect their student athletes’ eligibility.

This information session will also be advertised to parents of middle school athletes, so they will know and understand the rules before they make high school commitments with, and for, their child.

The dates, times and locations for those meetings have not been set yet.

The student athlete eligibility review form is available through the district's school choice office.

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