Concerning

After reading this and discussing it  we find that its not actually a good idea with kids playing football ,wrestling,or basketball in the lower grades with the more advanced kids who are much bigger and stronger, due mainly because of how its being handled.
Many of us know Gina Johnson and we also know her integrity and to take these kind of decisions outta her hands and place them in irresponsible hands such as them of Bacon and Miller who have no training in this area is a dangerous idea and  for the SC to agree with this is also unacceptable. Why would you do this and not have Gina who is experienced handle it?  I personally would not put the safety of my children in the hands of Miller or Bacon.
PVRS enrollment started taking a major nose dive when Miller came and everyone is aware of this . School choice won't even think of PVRS after the handling of the Administrators and the teachers. They have also failed to mention school choice kids were removed from PVRS and sent to BUHS, and other kids were transferred to other schools, but of course neither Bacon or Miller would supply that truth.
So we say no to this idea and I am sure parents will as well with it not being handled by Gina Johnson who has the experience in making these choices. She was trained for this job whereas Miller and Bacon were not and should not be allowed to make these choices for the kids.
Again, bad choices and the SC should be made aware that they are not putting the safety of the children first.

WARWICK – In the face of declining enrollment, the Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee approved a policy change allowing middle school students to play on either junior varsity or varsity teams.
Previously, the policy stated specifically that qualified eighth graders could play on varsity teams, and qualified seventh graders could play on junior varsity teams. The change, which was approved by the majority of the committee in a Thursday meeting at Warwick Community School, was proposed in hopes Pioneer could maintain full rosters rather than be forced to cut teams with low numbers.
“We find ourselves in new waters,” Pioneer Athletic Director Gina Johnson said during the meeting. “Our numbers are down so low.”
According to Pioneer Administrative Assistant Susan Anthony, Pioneer’s enrollment this year is 360 students in grades 7 through 12. At the start of last school year, Pioneer had 409 students, making for a 12 percent drop from one year to the next. Near the end of last school year, Principal Jean Bacon cited enrollment dropping from around 550 students in the previous five years.
The “driving force” behind Johnson’s proposal was the need to cut the school’s varsity field hockey program in early September after not having enough players in grades 8 through 12. For the rest of the fall season, the program functioned as a junior varsity team.

“I’m concerned we’re going to hit this in other sports,” Johnson explained, noting that a policy change would also “give our kids the chance to play at the next level.”
Under both the old and new policies, middle schoolers are only qualified to move up if they’re “academically, emotionally and physically capable, (are) recommended by the coach, (are) not displacing a varsity player and (have) parents/guardians who support the placement.” Under the new policy, Johnson and Pioneer Principal Jean Bacon will review each case and make a recommendation to Superintendent Ruth Miller regarding a student’s placement. Miller will make the final determination.
Some audience and School Committee members were concerned about the younger students’ physical safety, and worried they wouldn’t fit in among older, competitive athletes.
“You’re mixing seventh graders and seniors,” Bernardston Selectman Robert Raymond objected. “I think this School Committee should not approve this policy.”
School Committee member David Young agreed with Raymond, believing that parents would push their children to make the varsity teams. He proposed making approvals on a case-by-case basis, rather than establishing a policy.
Bernardston resident Mike Townsley suggested the policy be limited to non-contact sports.
“If you bring a younger kid up, he’s not going to fit in,” Townsley argued.
However, others felt comforted by the policy’s various safeguards.
“I felt reassured by the fact there’s so many levels where a problem could be brought up,” said resident Martha Parker, noting other circumstances where seventh graders and seniors learn to work together.
“This is already happening in drama,” Parker continued. “You have 12th and seventh graders and they’re very competitive … We don’t even think about it.”
The policy was approved by the policy subcommittee during a Wednesday meeting, and then by the full School Committee Thursday. Miller said the change is effective immediately and will apply to winter sports.