We, the parents and supporters of students who attend the surrounding Huntsville/Madison area Catholic schools, by signing this petition, request the Boards, Foundations, Athletic Directors and Principals to submit the necessary documents to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) to become a sanctioned participating member no later than January 31st, 2017. Currently 7th & 8th grade students in the Huntsville/Madison area wanting to participate in AHSAA sanctioned sports are unfairly forced to transfer to other public and private schools throughout the city in order to participate in AHSAA sanctioned athletics. By joining the AHSAA, the 7th & 8th grade students in the Huntsville/Madison area who want to participate in AHSAA sanctioned athletics will no longer be forced to transfer and will have an opportunity to compete against other AHSAA sanctioned public and private middle school teams throughout the city and surrounding areas. In addition to being able to participate against their peers from other AHSAA sanctioned schools, 7th & 8th grade Catholic school students in the Huntsville/Madison area will have the opportunity to take advantage of athletic training and other sports related opportunities that are currently available at St. John Paul II Catholic High School by becoming a sanctioned member of the AHSAA. The purpose of this petition is not to impact the athletic opportunities that are available to Huntsville/Madison area Catholic school students in the K through 6th grades. The purpose is to provide the 7th & 8th grade students in the Huntsville/Madison area access to the same athletic opportunities as other middle school students throughout the city without being forced to leave the educational and religious opportunities that make our surrounding Huntsville/Madison area Catholic schools unique in order to pursue their athletic ambitions.

Students in the Huntsville/Madison area Catholic schools in the 7th & 8th grades must be allowed to support continued Catholic Education in Northern Alabama and build the athletic program at the only Catholic High School in the Huntsville, Madison and Decatur area. In order to make this happen, all of the Huntsville/Madison area Catholic schools MUST join the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Saint Ann Catholic School in Decatur joined the AHSAA in 2015 and their 7th & 8th grade students are now able to participate at St. John Paul II Catholic High School. All children attending Catholic schools within the Birmingham area have this opportunity beginning in the 7th grade and our children should not be excluded.