The district has officially reversed the decision to split the cross country teams and will maintain them as single units. We will monitor the upcoming budget cycles to ensure this team structure remains in place for future seasons.
April 5, 2016
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, formally petition against the split of the Smithtown Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams between the East and West Campuses. We believe a successful cross country team requires a large roster, which gives it the ability to compete and develop runners for future years. It will create two teams per gender that are half the size of the originals, costing the district additional expenses for coaches, buses, entry fees for meets, and uniforms. Additionally, rosters that combine the two schools establish a sense of community that many other sports fail to create or greatly strain. Finally, we feel that we will lose much of the talent that we once had in the sport. Along with many kids refusing to run with two different teams, we will lose the push and motivation that we once gained from having so many different athletes at different skill levels pushing everyone to strive for his or her own best.
We respectfully request that this decision is reversed and the Smithtown Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams each remain a single unit comprised of athletes from both High School East and High School West.
Thank you.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 23, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
February 23, 2016
February 20, 2016
We are approaching the one thousand signature mark which provides the necessary leverage for our scheduled meeting with the school board administrators. Please direct your contacts to the petition page today so we hit this threshold before the upcoming budget committee review.
134 Comments
My boys used to be a part of this team. They looked forward to reuniting every summer. I've heard from so many former teammates. They are devistated to hear this split is on the table.
Smithtown XC made me who I am today. Without this family I would be lost and still looking for myself. Everyday I just counted down the minutes until practice and it will never have been the same without the entire family. Please let future generations experience the same life changing experience I did.
this is not okay. runners develop better when they learn from each other from boths groups together and are treated equally. I've personally improved so much from the encouragement and help for my male friends on my team and i would never wanna be split from them.
I spent the best three years of my cross country career on the mixed East-West team, I want future generations to have the same opportunity that I did. -Sean Moran, Smithtown West class of 2012
I am a senior graduating this year and have been a part of Smithtown XC for all 4 of my high school years. My best friends came from this team. These friendships span both schools and the thought that such an opportunity will be taken away from future generations of cross country runners deeply sickens me.
A team is a family and should never have to be torn apart.
Save cross country
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The district has officially reversed the decision to split the cross country teams and will maintain them as single units. We will monitor the upcoming budget cycles to ensure this team structure remains in place for future seasons.
April 5, 2016
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, formally petition against the split of the Smithtown Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams between the East and West Campuses. We believe a successful cross country team requires a large roster, which gives it the ability to compete and develop runners for future years. It will create two teams per gender that are half the size of the originals, costing the district additional expenses for coaches, buses, entry fees for meets, and uniforms. Additionally, rosters that combine the two schools establish a sense of community that many other sports fail to create or greatly strain. Finally, we feel that we will lose much of the talent that we once had in the sport. Along with many kids refusing to run with two different teams, we will lose the push and motivation that we once gained from having so many different athletes at different skill levels pushing everyone to strive for his or her own best.
We respectfully request that this decision is reversed and the Smithtown Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams each remain a single unit comprised of athletes from both High School East and High School West.
Thank you.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 23, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
February 23, 2016
February 20, 2016
We are approaching the one thousand signature mark which provides the necessary leverage for our scheduled meeting with the school board administrators. Please direct your contacts to the petition page today so we hit this threshold before the upcoming budget committee review.
134 Comments
You are doing a great injustice. Winning meets is based on points fewer kids fewer points. Forget this but remember the team spirit the commaraderie they have and putting on a united front for smithtown.
My boys used to be a part of this team. They looked forward to reuniting every summer. I've heard from so many former teammates. They are devistated to hear this split is on the table.
Smithtown XC made me who I am today. Without this family I would be lost and still looking for myself. Everyday I just counted down the minutes until practice and it will never have been the same without the entire family. Please let future generations experience the same life changing experience I did.
this is not okay. runners develop better when they learn from each other from boths groups together and are treated equally. I've personally improved so much from the encouragement and help for my male friends on my team and i would never wanna be split from them.
I spent the best three years of my cross country career on the mixed East-West team, I want future generations to have the same opportunity that I did. -Sean Moran, Smithtown West class of 2012
I am a senior graduating this year and have been a part of Smithtown XC for all 4 of my high school years. My best friends came from this team. These friendships span both schools and the thought that such an opportunity will be taken away from future generations of cross country runners deeply sickens me.
A team is a family and should never have to be torn apart.
Save cross country
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You are doing a great injustice. Winning meets is based on points fewer kids fewer points. Forget this but remember the team spirit the commaraderie they have and putting on a united front for smithtown.