Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We are writing on behalf of Sidney Hall and calling for a change in policy regarding how inter-high transfers are handled in the Worcester Public Schools.
Sidney transferred to South High Community School from Doherty Memorial High School in the fall of the 2022 school year. He transferred because he was looking for an opportunity for more academic rigor to help him continue his preparation for college. The sending school and the receiving school knew of his transfer and Sidney was not told that he needed a signed waiver in order play high school basketball as part of his transfer process. Someone unaffiliated with the school informed him about this waiver. Sidney made attempts to find out about this process with each school but was not given a clear response each time an inquiry was made.
As a result, Sidney learned about the transfer process too late and had to go through the MIAA appeal process in order to be eligible for sports. First, he was denied the opportunity to play at South, where he had been attending since the start of the school year. The MIAA delayed the hearing decision a couple of times, so that when he was finally granted a decision (a denial), it was after Thanksgiving break. When he received the decision, Sidney transferred back to Doherty (his neighborhood school) in the hopes of being able to play basketball his senior year, but he was about a week too late to be eligible. The school stated that he needed to be enrolled in the school where he would be playing by the Monday prior to Thanksgiving break. Sadly, Sidney was then denied the opportunity to play at Doherty (the school he currently attends) because the MIAA ruled that his transfer to South High was athletically motivated.
We are writing for two reasons:
- We believe that the transfer process in the Worcester Public Schools is not publicized or made easily known to students or families. If your child is looking to transfer, you should be able to easily find step by step instructions of what is needed, including what paperwork needs to be received, signed and submitted.
- Many students have transferred high schools in Worcester for athletically motivated reasons. These students either knew the right people or had both parties on board so that getting a signed waiver was not an issue for them. This process should NOT be left up to the discretion of one school or administrator.
Sadly, Sidney Hall is not able to play high school basketball his senior year because one piece of paper (that Sidney was not aware of) was not signed.
This decision has had a grave effect on Sidney’s mental health, as well as possible ramifications for playing at the collegiate level.
We are writing in the hopes that the transfer process become more transparent and more consistent, so that this situation does not happen to another student athlete. What happened to Sidney is a travesty, but it would be a grave miscarriage of justice if this were to happen to another student athlete!
Sincerely,
The Worcester Community
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Updates
February 5, 2023
The school district leadership is finally starting to sweat because they cannot ignore this level of public outrage anymore. They pushed a student into a corner and now they are watching their reputation crumble as more people see exactly how they treat our kids. This momentum shows that the administration can no longer pretend this broken system is acceptable.
23 Comments
Basketball programs for high school students are supposed to be designed to strengthen the student’s skills on and off the court. Not come up with absurd legalities to hinder the growth of the students for the districts own selfish gains.
So sad this happened to Sidney. He deserved to play his senior year. I hope this never happens to another kid.
Listen, we’ve all been around or have a family member that played sports within the Worcester public school systems and I don’t know of many people with all those transfer details off the top of their heads. I mean, who knows those rules off hand?? I always thought guidance counseling was supposed to assist kids thru their educational processes both physically and mentally. If this is affecting this young man’s ability to engage is academics to his FULL POTENTIAL , then the system is failing him. Where’s the “Guidance”?? This is not a shot at guidance counselors as I know some that give their all to their jobs during these trying times. But this is another need to be addressed. Let the kid play!!!
Shame on Worc public school sept. We should be working in the best interest of the child
Change is necessary, not only because I seen how the system effected my son but to prevent it from happening to other kids in Worcester Public Schools.
This is shameful.
Let these kids PLAY
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We are writing on behalf of Sidney Hall and calling for a change in policy regarding how inter-high transfers are handled in the Worcester Public Schools.
Sidney transferred to South High Community School from Doherty Memorial High School in the fall of the 2022 school year. He transferred because he was looking for an opportunity for more academic rigor to help him continue his preparation for college. The sending school and the receiving school knew of his transfer and Sidney was not told that he needed a signed waiver in order play high school basketball as part of his transfer process. Someone unaffiliated with the school informed him about this waiver. Sidney made attempts to find out about this process with each school but was not given a clear response each time an inquiry was made.
As a result, Sidney learned about the transfer process too late and had to go through the MIAA appeal process in order to be eligible for sports. First, he was denied the opportunity to play at South, where he had been attending since the start of the school year. The MIAA delayed the hearing decision a couple of times, so that when he was finally granted a decision (a denial), it was after Thanksgiving break. When he received the decision, Sidney transferred back to Doherty (his neighborhood school) in the hopes of being able to play basketball his senior year, but he was about a week too late to be eligible. The school stated that he needed to be enrolled in the school where he would be playing by the Monday prior to Thanksgiving break. Sadly, Sidney was then denied the opportunity to play at Doherty (the school he currently attends) because the MIAA ruled that his transfer to South High was athletically motivated.
We are writing for two reasons:
- We believe that the transfer process in the Worcester Public Schools is not publicized or made easily known to students or families. If your child is looking to transfer, you should be able to easily find step by step instructions of what is needed, including what paperwork needs to be received, signed and submitted.
- Many students have transferred high schools in Worcester for athletically motivated reasons. These students either knew the right people or had both parties on board so that getting a signed waiver was not an issue for them. This process should NOT be left up to the discretion of one school or administrator.
Sadly, Sidney Hall is not able to play high school basketball his senior year because one piece of paper (that Sidney was not aware of) was not signed.
This decision has had a grave effect on Sidney’s mental health, as well as possible ramifications for playing at the collegiate level.
We are writing in the hopes that the transfer process become more transparent and more consistent, so that this situation does not happen to another student athlete. What happened to Sidney is a travesty, but it would be a grave miscarriage of justice if this were to happen to another student athlete!
Sincerely,
The Worcester Community
Updates
February 5, 2023
The school district leadership is finally starting to sweat because they cannot ignore this level of public outrage anymore. They pushed a student into a corner and now they are watching their reputation crumble as more people see exactly how they treat our kids. This momentum shows that the administration can no longer pretend this broken system is acceptable.
23 Comments
Unbelievable, do they understand what this does to a young child that just wants to chase his dreams with continuing to the next level. This is so uncalled for. I will Pray for him and his Family. Keep your head up young Men
Basketball programs for high school students are supposed to be designed to strengthen the student’s skills on and off the court. Not come up with absurd legalities to hinder the growth of the students for the districts own selfish gains.
So sad this happened to Sidney. He deserved to play his senior year. I hope this never happens to another kid.
Listen, we’ve all been around or have a family member that played sports within the Worcester public school systems and I don’t know of many people with all those transfer details off the top of their heads. I mean, who knows those rules off hand?? I always thought guidance counseling was supposed to assist kids thru their educational processes both physically and mentally. If this is affecting this young man’s ability to engage is academics to his FULL POTENTIAL , then the system is failing him. Where’s the “Guidance”?? This is not a shot at guidance counselors as I know some that give their all to their jobs during these trying times. But this is another need to be addressed. Let the kid play!!!
Shame on Worc public school sept. We should be working in the best interest of the child
Change is necessary, not only because I seen how the system effected my son but to prevent it from happening to other kids in Worcester Public Schools.
This is shameful.
Let these kids PLAY
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Unbelievable, do they understand what this does to a young child that just wants to chase his dreams with continuing to the next level. This is so uncalled for. I will Pray for him and his Family. Keep your head up young Men