In 2010, our world was rocked when the Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) made the sharp decision to cut interscholastic high school sports programs at both County Prep High School and High Tech High School. This happened under the heavy cloud of budget cuts, with the 2010-11 school year forced to begin without the joyful spirit of team games and healthy competition.

Eliminating sports from these schools was more than just a delete action in the budget spreadsheet. It was a deletion of opportunities for students to learn crucial life lessons on teamwork, resilience, and determination. It was a reduction of the community's communal occasions that brought people together and instilled a sense of belonging to everybody involved.

Our pleas have been loud and clear across HCST and beyond: More than their convenience and the competitive spirit they infused in our surrounding communities, these sports programs are essential. Sports are not an indulgence but a necessity, a beacon of pride. They are integral to a well-rounded education capable of preparing our young people for the challenges they will face in the future.

Let us take this plea for reinstatement to the decision-makers, reminding them of the importance of sports in the formation of character and community. We demand, with immediate effect, the restoration of interscholastic sports to both County Prep High School and High Tech High School. The sound of whistles, the cheers of our students, and the aura of competition should once again ripple through our campuses.

Stand with us in our fight for what is not just a right, but a necessity for our schools. Sign this petition and lend your voice to ours; together, let us lobby the Hudson County Schools of Technology to reinstate athletics. Let's bring sports back to County Prep and High Tech!