During the public-comment period, a parent and community member urged the Pittsford Central School District Board of Education to review how cuts were conducted for the modified middle-school baseball program and suggested expanding teams to include A and B squads at one middle school.
The speaker described a tryout process in which seventh- and eighth-grade players were lined up in a gym and then called individually, which resulted in some students remaining in the gym for 15 to 20 minutes and learning in a public setting that they had not made the team. "The kids later in the line found out they did the math," he told the board, and said that the practice caused emotional distress. He said he had discussed the issue with an athletic program staff member (Patrick Irving), who agreed the process should be updated.
The commenter also said he was told eighth graders were not given preferential placement over seventh graders under the modified program but argued that the current approach could reduce overall participation by eliminating eighth-grade opportunities rather than expanding slots. He recommended the district consider creating both A and B teams at Cawkins Road Middle School to accommodate a large cohort of players and increase participation.
The speaker identified himself as a parent, praised the Pittsford Baseball program and offered to assist district staff in working on changes. Board members thanked him for his comments; no board action was taken during the meeting on the matter.
The board chair closed the public-comment portion and proceeded to adjourn the meeting.