Below is the letter mailed to all BH-BL parents with children in grades 4 - 12 to explain the details and rationale for the new admission policy.

September 2006

Dear Parents & Guardians:

We are writing to you about a serious safety concern.
Athletic events are a very important aspect of school life and provide a wholesome way to influence the positive growth and development of our students. They can foster team building, health and fitness, and community spirit. Whether our children participate as athletes or spectators, they can gain immeasurable value from these contests.

Along with the privilege of participating in an athletic contest, either as a spectator or player, comes the responsibility to exhibit exemplary conduct, spirit and sportsmanship. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake has been recognized in the past for its outstanding conduct and the example it portrays for others on and off the playing field.

Here is our concern. In the past few years we have seen more middle and elementary school pupils left unsupervised by their parents at high school athletic games and - as a consequence - more incidents of misconduct and other inappropriate behaviors by these pupils. This has particularly become a problem at night-time football games, where we can have as many as 1,000 people attending including an estimated 200 8th grade and younger pupils.

We seem to have more parents dropping their 4th to 8th grade children off at the high school and then picking them up after the game. This is not safe. It is particularly unsafe at night-time football games, where a number of kids disappear into the woods or congregate on the adjoining unlighted sports fields to socialize and unfortunately also to become involved in misconduct.

While we have numerous chaperones, the size of the campus and number of spectators diminish our ability to safely supervise unattended youngsters.

We are bringing this topic to your attention and we are changing our athletic attendance practice (see below) because it would be irresponsible for us as school leaders not to do so. No one wants to wait until a child is seriously injured at or abducted from one of our games to issue new safety rules.

Please be advised that effective immediately:

1. 8th grade and younger pupils will not be allowed to attend home evening varsity contests without an adult attending the game with them. An adult may be a parent, coach, grandparent or even a high school sibling. Children who arrive at the door or gate to a contest without an adult will be held there until an adult can arrive to either attend with them or take them back home.

2. This policy will be in effect for all evening varsity football games and evening games for boys' and girls' soccer, and boys' and girls' basketball.

3. High school pupils may enter a game without an adult but should be prepared to show identification if the staff member at the gate requests it.

4. High school siblings with proper identification may escort younger siblings but not their sibling's friends. Younger siblings must have some form of identification such as a school ID to attend a game with a high school brother or sister.

Many BH-BL residents moved here because this was such a safe and a healthy place to raise children. We believe this is still true, and that it can continue to be true as our community grows and changes, if we are willing to work together to actively model and teach children appropriate behavior and expectations.

If you have comments or questions about this policy, you are welcome to contact any of us. Thank you for your support and your efforts to focus on what is best for kids.
Sincerely,

(The letter was signed by Superintendent Jim Schultz, Athletic Director Bob McGuire, and the respective school principals)