We are asking for two weeks. Two weeks that could save our basketball seasons, give our seniors the home-court sendoff they deserve, and preserve one of the most meaningful traditions of our school community.

We support the gym renovation. We simply ask that our students not have to sacrifice their season for it.

Pace High School has been awarded funding to renovate its basketball gymnasium, an investment we welcome and appreciate. However, the newest construction schedule calls for work to begin on December 2, 2026, putting the basketball season in jeopardy. February 2027 had previously been the anticipated start date.

From the beginning, our coaches, athletic directors, and school staff have worked tirelessly with Pace University to find alternative gym space. They rearranged game dates, times, and locations to accommodate availability, only to encounter a proposed gym usage fee of $200 per hour, approximately $400 per day and potentially $10,000 for the season. As a Title I New York City public school, Pace High School simply does not have those funds available.

Our staff did the work. Our coaches made the adjustments. Our student-athletes prepared for their season. Now, an unexpected change in the construction timeline threatens to undo it all.

THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN BASKETBALL.

At Pace High School, basketball brings our community together. Our gym fills with students cheering for their classmates, teachers supporting their students, and families celebrating the hard work of our athletes. These games create belonging, school pride, and memories that last long after graduation.

If construction begins December 2, only 1 of our 13 scheduled home games could be played at Pace High School. The remaining games would be at risk, and without an affordable alternative, both teams could face forfeiting their seasons.

Among our players are 12 graduating seniors—four girls and eight boys who have dedicated three years to their teams and helped build the Pace basketball program into what it is today.

This is their final season. They deserve to play. They deserve to hear their classmates cheering from the bleachers. They deserve one last opportunity to represent their school on their home court.

OUR SOLUTION: JUST TWO WEEKS.

We respectfully ask that construction begin after December 15, 2026, rather than December 2.

This two-week adjustment could allow 8 of our 13 home games to be played at Pace High School, giving our boys' and girls' teams a meaningful season while allowing the renovation to move forward.

We understand that construction requires coordination and planning. We are not asking for the project to be canceled or delayed for the entire season. We are asking decision-makers and contractors to work together to determine whether this modest adjustment is feasible.

PLEASE GIVE OUR STUDENTS TWO WEEKS.

Two weeks may seem small in the scope of a major renovation. But to our athletes, it means the chance to compete. To our seniors, it means a final season and a proper goodbye. To our school, it means preserving the tradition that brings our community together.

We believe in the renovation. We believe in our school. And we believe our students deserve a solution that protects both.

Please delay construction until after  December 15, 2026.

Our students have put in the work. They have earned this season. Please give them the opportunity to finish what they started.

Respectfully,

Concerned students, student-athletes, parents, coaches, alumni, teachers, and members of the Pace High School community