Over the last few months, the Red Hook School District, with the Board of Education, has worked to address community concerns to propose a synthetic field installation that would be environmentally friendly and chemical free. We believe their work has paid off, offering the best solution while remaining the most fiscally responsible for the taxpayer. One synthetic turf field, free of lead and PFAS, the "forever chemical" provided by a vendor with a zero-waste recycling process. A product without the need for chemical treatments, maintenance  by gas-powered equipment or extensive watering. All while keeping remaining fields natural grass and giving them proper rest and extending their life and use.

But this shouldn't be the end of the conversation....

School sports offer so much more than what we see on the surface. The opportunities are endless. My goal with this petition is to raise awareness of the amazing hidden benefits for our students that come with team sports and modern facilities. 

For a multitude of students navigating their teenage years, the journey from middle to high school presents a host of challenges. Many of these adolescents grapple with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression - a daunting prospect for parents and caregivers alike. As someone who has been personally involved within the transformative influence of sports, I believe that investing in top-notch school facilities can carve out an avenue of solace and engagement for struggling students.

We ask for the much-needed revamping of our school sports facilities in Red Hook School District. Specifically, the petition emphasizes on: updating the High School gym bleachers to be strictly in accordance with the ADA compliance, transitioning our grass football field into a synthetic turf field allowing football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, resurfacing the track, instating field lighting, upgrading additional grass fields, and instituting baseball and softball fields.

These upgrades not only help pave the way for our sports programs to thrive, but also help in creating an inclusive environment for all students. Sports, indeed, are a testament to the spirit of resilience - a beacon of hope for students facing mental health concerns. 

Remember, a small step can spur the start of a journey. Upgraded facilities could bring more intramural programs or after school youth programs. These programs are always helpful for those single working parents, or double income working parents, who need a safe place for their child to be after school. And typically kids involved in sports and clubs are more likely to stay out of trouble. 

We should consider the changing landscape of school sports and mixed competition, boys playing traditional girls sports and vice-versa. Will there be a need to add more teams and/or more fields based on NYS Education Department regulations? We can help students struggling with gender identity if we offer the teams and subsequent facilities that make them feel safe and comfortable. 

Our marching band will have better access with this new field. Will they grow as well? Can they be a bigger part of our games? Can we host competitions or more of their own events? Can we incorporate AV clubs, upgrade the announcer booth for games, having those students running audio and video logistics for our programs? Can we have the Red Hook School News Channel doing live broadcasts? Can we get drama and theater to use the field, even an outdoor play under the stars? Handicapped accessibility is being requested for our gym bleachers but why can't we also host a sporting event on this ADA compliant field? Can robotics make use of this field, develop their first drone to take aerial video? Can we develop a LGBTQ-inclusive athletics program to invite those students to participate in team and intramural sports and strengthen peer relationships.

The list of opportunities goes on and on. And it can reach almost every student in our schools. Having a "fancy football field" is only that if you make it that. But our school district, our community and our students are better than that. These upgrades will be an investment for every student and will carry over into our community.   

Your signature signals a transformative change, fostering an environment that galvanizes student participation, conveys the importance of mental health and insistently transgresses barriers of accessibility. It will teach students of real world cooperation among differing industries.

Please sign this petition today. Keep this project alive so our community can hear all of the information and allow the Red Hook School District to present another vote.