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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