By KRISTINA TORRES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The father of a Cobb County teenager who in June successfully completed a Juvenile Drug Treatment Court program is asking the county school board to back an effort that would allow the youth to wrestle competitively this winter for his high school.
James “Jay “Brenowitz is a fifth-year senior at Pope High School who needs a waiver to extend his athletic eligibility after he missed his junior year to attend a residential drug treatment center and did not earn enough credits to graduate last year. He could qualify for the waiver under the Georgia High School Athletic Association, but, to be considered, he first needs the signature of his principal, Charlotte Stowers.
Stowers has not given it.
“We don’t want to set a precedent, “said Cobb spokesman Jay Dillon, declining to go into specifics because of student confidentiality rules.
Larry Brenowitz, Jay’s dad, disagrees. On Thursday he and more than 40 supporters stood before the board in support of Jay, who wants to continue his sports career in part to attract collegiate wrestling scholarships. Jay himself did not attend because, his dad said, the 18-year-old had to work.
“Life is about second chances, “Pope High student David Toomey said. “Jay has not been given a second chance and he should be.”
Family friend and clinical social worker Judy Greenberg said, “Understand that this particular student has overcome huge amounts of difficulty.”
Jay, who turns 19 in March, has said he was 14 when he started using drugs. Beginning with alcohol and marijuana, he progressed to using Ecstasy, methamphetamines and co- caine. It took several false starts in the drug treatment court program, but, finally, he found sobriety.
Jay now speaks to groups of other teens about his addiction and recovery.
The board did not discuss the request at the meeting. A response is expected within 30 days.
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