Boccieri bill aims to protect athletes serving in military from reprisals

February 26, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

BELOIT

It’s probably safe to say that 17-year-old Courtney Papic’s achievements will continue to pile up for the remainder of her senior year at West Branch High School.

Nevertheless, the most- enduring aspect of her school legacy may lie in what began as a single negative experience that she plans to use to benefit other students.

“It hurt a little bit,” said Papic, a member of the school’s girls basketball team, referring to her being benched for a game Feb. 8 against South Range because she had missed two practices and a previous game, which conflicted with a commitment she had with the Air Force Reserve at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.

After having to watch the game from the bleachers, Courtney told her father, Scott Papic, and it wasn’t long before word reached state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th.

As a result, Boccieri, who served about 20 years in the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard, has co-sponsored the Students to Soldiers Support Act, which he discussed during a news conference Thursday at the school, 14277 S. Main St.

The legislation would extend to students wishing to serve in the military the same protections employees receive under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994.

USERRA ensures that uniformed service personnel do not suffer from discrimination and punitive measures in their careers as a result of military obligations, he explained.

Similarly, Boccieri’s bill would protect students from reprisals, discrimination and punitive actions if such an obligation conflicts with an athletics practice or any other extracurricular activity, he said.

Courtney Papic is part of YARS’ Development and Training Flight program, which prepares reservists for boot camp. The monthly training is mandatory.

Boccieri’s measure is important because it should prevent students “from being caught in the middle” between military and school commitments, noted Dr. Scott R. Weingart, the West Branch School District’s superintendent.

Also, the Students to Soldiers Support Act likely will be an added tool to enhance communications among students, their families, employers, school officials and military personnel, Weingart explained.

“I’m proud of Courtney, and I encourage this type of service,” he said, adding that the West Branch district has a large number of military families.

Also pleased with the outcome was Scott Papic, who called his daughter’s benching and its aftermath “a misunderstanding to an extent.”

He also said he was at a loss to explain the unfairness he felt was inherent in Courtney’s being sanctioned for her efforts to serve her country, but added he was extremely proud of her for paving the way for other students who want to follow suit.

In a Feb. 12 letter to Papic and her parents, Walt DeShields, the basketball team’s head coach, apologized, saying he and the district need to learn more about the new Air Force program.

DeShields added it was not his intention to have Courtney sit out the game because of her attendance at the training.

“I am certainly proud of Courtney’s pursuit to serve our country, and support her in this journey to protect our freedoms. ... I take full responsibility for my decision and will learn from it,” he wrote.

Papic, who also is on her school’s cross-country and track teams, said she hopes no other student will have to endure what she experienced.

“Sports taught me how to work together as a team,” she said.