HOWLAND BASKETBALL Parents drop suit against school

The Howland schools superintendent said he is pleased the matter has been resolved.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The parents of a Howland High School sophomore basketball player who wanted to have a judge force the school to allow their son to play have dismissed their case.
Julie and David Byler of Silver Fox Lane dismissed their case Thursday in the courtroom of Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. The dismissal came moments before a hearing was to begin on the matter.
Atty. Dan Letson, who is representing the Bylers, declined to say why the suit was dropped.
John Rubesich, schools superintendent, declined to comment on the case but said he is pleased the matter has been resolved.
The Bylers filed the suit Dec. 5 asking a judge to prohibit the high school and the Ohio High School Athletic Association from keeping their son, Justin, from playing on the team.
According to a roster faxed by the high school to The Vindicator last month, Justin Byler made the varsity basketball team. School officials, however, said Byler is ineligible to play because he did not pass enough classes during the last nine-week grading period.
School officials said OHSAA bylaws state that a student must pass five one-credit classes, and Justin passed only four.
Result of suspension: The motion filed by the Bylers says that Justin was suspended from school for 10 days Sept. 28. The suspension resulted in Justin's receiving zeros for 10 school days. Because of the suspension, Justin received one failing grade for the grading period.
The Bylers appealed the suspension and they had a hearing Nov. 16 in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay, court records say.
During the hearing, a settlement was reached and it was agreed that Justin would be able to make up work missed during the 10-day suspension, the motion states.
The Bylers said Justin is now passing all his classes and has a C average.
sinkovich@vindy.com