WINSLOW -- Three high school football players who are suspects in a rash of car burglaries over the summer are likely to finish out the season without penalty from the school.

School committee members Monday evening decided to put off for another month a decision on a policy revision that would enable them to suspend student athletes who participate in criminal activities.

The committee plans to vote on the revision Nov. 3, which falls around the first round of playoffs. In any case, the Winslow school superintendent, Hugh Riordan, said it should not affect the players in question.

"I've taken a fair number of calls asking why these youngsters are allowed to continue their participation in athletics," Riordan said. "But based on a big hole in our policy, we have decided to allow the juvenile justice system to handle this ... and take care of our policy."

Riordan said the proposed revisions should not be retroactive.

A draft of the revised policy reads thus:

"Athletes may/will be suspended/removed for conduct that is detrimental to Winslow High School or the community. Examples of this include, but are not limited to: criminal activity, harassment violations, computer infractions (or) other athletic code violations."

Winslow High School's athletic code would be enforced year-around, and athletes would be required to sign a contract stating that they would abide by its rules.

School administrators took up the matter after a public outcry when Winslow residents realized that at least three of the juveniles allegedly involved in the car burglaries over the summer played on teams.

Police said a group of juveniles, ages 13-17, roved through Winslow neighborhoods stealing about $10,000 worth of electronics and other items from 65 unlocked vehicles.

The suspects have not been convicted. Their court date was set for Dec. 9 in Waterville District Court. But if the proposed revision to the athletic code passes, students in the future could be suspended by the school before receiving a criminal conviction, school committee chairman Ron Whary said.

"If they are charged, then at that point, the criminal activity has been documented," he said. "If a teacher or if an administrator is going to look into it, and they find (the allegation) is factual, then I think that that is enough."

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com