Close to a dozen Orcas Island high school students were recently suspended from the football, soccer and volleyball teams for underage drinking.

“The student signs an agreement and makes a promise that will they will refrain from this,” Superintendent Barbara Kline said. “The consequences are very spelled out.”

The 10 high school students violated the 2011-12 “Athletic Handbook,” and as result were removed from their sports teams, school officials said. They are the only students to face such disciplinary action this year. The athletes will be eligible to play winter sports.

Kline said she began hearing about rumors of a party held three weeks ago at a parent’s home and conferred with athletic director Sandi Harris, who had heard similar allegations.

“To the credit of the students, several of them immediately came forward and talked to us and their parents and their coaches,” Kline said. “Once we have enough information, we call the parents and have a meeting. This went a little differently because some of the students talked to their parents and coaches already.”

The handbook requires all athletes to abstain from drinking alcohol, taking drugs and smoking cigarettes and from being in the presence of minors who are engaging in such activities. A handful of basketball players were kicked off the team last year after being cited for alcohol possession. They were the only students found to have violated the handbook last year.

For the first offense, athletes who are “suspected or found to be in possession, under the influence or using alcohol, illegal drugs or tobacco or suspected or found to be in the presence of others who are participating in the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs” will be immediately suspended from the team. The handbook also reads: “If the student athlete … is found to have been in the presence of others who are participating in the illegal use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco, the student athlete will be suspended from the team for a minimum of one game.” In this case, one football player was removed from the team for a single game.

Under school policies, a meeting with the student, parents, principal, athletic director and coach must be held within three school days of the incident or report of the incident. The school committee must then meet within one day to determine consequences.

“It’s about personal integrity,” Kline said. “We are trying to help young people understand that when you give your word, you keep it.”

An Orcas parent thinks the handbook’s rules are unfair.

“If it happens at the beginning of the year, you are kicked off for the entire season,” said the parent, whose name is being withheld to protect the student’s identity. “If it happens after the season is over, there is no penalty. You can go on to the next sport. If you lined every kid up that is playing sports and you asked honestly (about partying), there would be no sports on Orcas. Not to say that all kids are doing it, but there are enough that there wouldn’t be enough to fill the team … This is absolutely a failed policy. It is not preventing anything, it is only punishing the kids who get caught.”

Kline feels the experience is a valuable one for the students involved.

“As always, it is very unpleasant but it results in some very good learning opportunities and discussion between parents and students,” she said.

As for the parent who allegedly hosted the party, both Kline and Sheriff Rob Nou declined to comment.

“I didn’t even hear about it until a week ago,” Nou said. “The school does what the school does and at some point, if they choose to involve us in that process, it’s up to them.”

Athletic handbook rules regarding alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs

First offense: suspension from the team for the season.

Second offense: suspension from team for one calendar year.

Third offense: permanent ineligibility from sports or other co-curricular offerings.