Cape Elizabeth students participating in extra-curricular activities will have to continue signing year-long contracts promising not to use alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana.

That decision, which was made Wednesday by the Substance Abuse Policy Committee, will come as a disappointment to many students who wanted seasonal contracts.

Though they put up a fight, students did not expect to win the battle for seasonal contracts under the drinking policy, said Student Advisory Council President Mary Cox.

From the beginning, students were well informed of the administrative position on this matter. “We fought for it, but we pretty much knew that they would not vote for this,” said Cox.

Cox and fellow student Heather Furman have been fighting this battle for months. As the only two students on a 10-person committee, Cox and Furman were charged with convincing the adults that seasonal contracts as opposed to year-long contracts would more effectively deter student drinking.

Chair of the Substance Abuse Policy committee Trish Brigham said voting in favor of seasonal contracts would have sent “out a message indirectly that we were condoning (drinking) out of season.”

Cox said, though the administration listened to her concerns, “when it comes to tough issues…they were pretty much saying thanks for playing government, but this is what’s happening.”

Cox, however, understands their position. “They’re not going to send any other message than the one they’re sending,” she said, because “they have to answer to parents.”

Brigham said the administrative stance has remained consistent throughout this process: to keep the kids safe, build their character and help them make responsible decisions.

Brigham said participating in a sport is a privilege, not a right. She said students should have to earn a privileges. “That requires good behavior,” she said.

The committee’s objective is to help kids make good decisions and act responsibly said Brigham, maintaining seasonal contracts is in line with that objective.

Cox said the small victories attained to date have been on the heels of administration agreeability. Initially, a student could be kicked off a team after a first offense if they did not self refer. Cox said the administration was willing to lessen that punishment because they felt it was unfair.

“That wasn’t difficult,” she said, because they all agreed. Self-referral is a provision in the policy, which grants students who admit guilt a lesser punishment.

The committee will tackle the issue of jurisdiction next, deciding how extensively to investigate allegations of broken contracts.

The substance abuse policy committee is a sub-committee of the School Board and will make recommendations to the policy committee upon completing their work.