PETITION

We the undersigned members of Elmwood & Plum City communities petition to respectfully request and demand The Elmwood School Board to pass the Boys/Girls EPC CO-OP's contracts set forth for April 1, 2016.

We don't want any child to go through the experience of not having the ability to be on a team because the school may not be able to offer the sports to them. Elmwood & Plum City Schools need each other to CO-OP with the declining numbers in students & those interested in school athletics. Each district alone doesn't have the numbers or kids with athletic talents & skills to continue to stay competitive with other schools. Although the girl numbers are adequate at this time, families move, kids become uninterested in sports & find alternate extra-curricular activities or families may not afford to continue with the sport, all reasons to continue with the CO-OP as numbers can decline in the future.

The boys haven't had enough numbers in the past, as we have seen, and going forward without the CO-OP may seriously impact the boys/girls sports programs. If each school were to have their own sports program, it could lead to not having enough players where the sport may not be offered for them to play or the talent level of the players forcing younger athletes to play older kids at a different skill level which may cripple the outcome of the sport, possibly losing most games & affecting their morale and attitude about the sport. We have seen this in the past with this outcome which is why the CO-OP needs to continue as started for both boys/girls athletics. We want to teach our kids the importance of trying your best & earning your spot on a team & to continue to build support with our programs together.