It has been brought to many community member’s attention that a few North Central Parke school board members have taken it upon themselves to suspend the decision to let our boys basketball team play their homes games at Rockville Elementary. This decision has gone against Parke Heritage athletic director and head basketball coach Rich Schelsky’s wishes.

To clarify, the board approved the re-branding of the RES gym. The girls have already been approved to play in RES by our school board and superintendent, but our boys team has not. There is no viable reason not to approve this request besides a personal vendetta that one may possibly possess.

A vote has been taken by all Parke Heritage basketball players in grades 9-12 on where they want to play their games.

The votes were as the follows:
-Rockville Elementary Gym - 27 votes

-Parke Heritage MS Gym- 5 votes

-Undecided-2 votes

Below are a few listed reasons why we need to respect Coach Schelsky’s wish to play his games at RES, as he continues to make PH one of the best programs in Indiana.

1.) Play where you practice.

2.) Play where the kids, coaches, and athletic director want.

3.) Allowing the girls and not the boys to use this court could possibly violate Title IX.

4.) Financially it benefits our athletic department at RES gymnasium has more seating resulting in more gate fees.

6.) IHSAA commissioner has confirmed that the gym is legal for varsity play.

7.) Closer EMS in case of an emergency.

8.) HUDL camera system is already installed at RES.

9.) The vetoing of this was done after the approval of the $60,000+ worth of renovations to the RES gym for this sole reason.

10.) Play in the town the school is located.

11.) Consistency of events, one soul gym where boys and girls basketball is played, instead of three different locations.

If you are a tax payer, a parent, an alumni, student-athlete, program leader, or simply a fanPlease take the time to sign this petition in hopes our superintendent and school board respect the wide majority of this communities’ opinion and wishes.