The two school officials gave presentations about the athletic departments at their respective schools during a meeting of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board of trustees. They highlighted athletic teams, programs and leagues. They also included information about facilities, athletic booster support, staffing and evaluation of coaches and the selection of teams.

Concerns arose during the public comment portion of the meeting because there are no published specifications about athletic team tryouts. Each school handles the tryout process differently, depending on the sport. Two parents voiced their frustration with the informal appeal process that takes place if a student doesn't make a team, and the stress it places on students when they are cut. There are no official guidelines on how an appeal should be handled.

Ellis and Magagna suggested that the student and coach should first have dialogue. If the issue isn't satisfactorily resolved, then the parent of that student could talk to the coach about the concern. Should that not be effective, the athletic director or a school administrator might be asked to help resolve the problem.

The school board moved forward with the first reading of a policy that prohibits coaches, part-time coaches and the spouses or domestic partners of coaches from accepting private remuneration. According to the policy, they will not be allowed to accept payments for coaching services--for individual, private or group coaching instruction--from an athlete if the student is currently on that coach's team. When the sport is not in session, such as during the summer, Superintendent Cindy Ranii said the school district can't prevent coaches from providing private instruction to student athletes for compensation.

Magagna said that he is in favor of the policy because it will help prohibit coaches from using their positions at the school to promote themselves outside of school. The policy came about after the board adopted a similar policy on March 1 that prohibits teachers from providing tutoring or private instruction for pay to students currently enrolled in their classes.

In addition, the school board moved forward with the first reading of a prom and senior ball transportation policy. The policy states that students attending proms and balls that are held outside the county must take mandatory busing or arranged transportation to and from the event, starting in the next school year. No student and his or her guest will be permitted to arrive by personal transportation.

"The prime objective and reason for this policy is safety ... so to me, from a safety standpoint, it doesn't matter whether the event is held inside or outside of the county," said board member Phil Nielsen.

The two policies are expected to return for second readings and possible action or adoption at the school board's May 17 meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Saratoga High School library.