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:

1. 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.
2. 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