Survey 74% Say Keep Sports Co-Op With Milford

Survey 74% Say Keep Sports Co-Op With Milford



(UPDATE: 11/21/13 -- 4:57 p.m.) -- A new Dorchester Times survey of finds nearly three-quarters of respondents want to keep Dorchester Public School's current athletics co-operative with Milford Public School.

However, the majority is split over whether to add girls and boys basketball, as well as volleyball, to the arrangement.

A little more than 28% of respondents said they favored adding the additional sports to the DHS-MHS pairing, while 46% said they thought DHS basketball and volleyball should remain unconsolidated.

Six respondents favored partnering with another school; and four respondents said DHS' discussions about athletic co-ops should end all together.

Here's the full breakdown of the survey when readers were asked: "Regarding the immediate future of DHS' athletic programs, what should the Dorchester School Board do?"



The informal survey was conducted over a 24-hour period from Nov. 20-21. Exactly 39 individuals from unique households or mobile devices took part.

As we reported yesterday, a special informative gathering was held at DPS on Monday night, Nov. 18. The town hall focused specifically on the future of DHS' athletic programs. School officials told the crowd that DHS participation and enrollment numbers were lower than they would like, and that the DPS Board is weighing its options.

As one Times reader pointed out, the projected number of Dorchester boys out for basketball next school year (2014-15) is six, although some DPS parents have questioned that estimate. Meanwhile, there were 20 DHS girls participating in volleyball this year, one of the largest volleyball teams in school history.

A special meeting of the Dorchester School Board is scheduled for tonight, Nov. 21. Board members may decide that DHS' current co-op arrangement with Milford -- in which the schools have combined football and wrestling squads -- should be extended to include girls and boys basketball, as well as volleyball.

There would certainly be pros and cons to expanding the co-op. Students would likely not see as much playing time as they do in Class D athletics, but they would certainly learn to be more competitive and perhaps prioritize the activity for which they're best suited -- a skill that will come in handy later in life. Also, the loss of a DHS-only team may discourage quality young teachers who also want to coach from applying at DPS, but there would likely be a cost savings realized by taxpayers who must foot the bill for school athletics via property taxes.