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Athletics director reviews school-combination rules and proposes added modified/B teams amid high participation
Summary
District athletics staff reviewed New York state combining-of-schools rules, listed current combined teams (e.g., girls ice hockey) and proposed demerging or adding additional modified/b teams for programs with strong interest to reduce cuts and support development.
The district’s athletics director reviewed the state process for combining schools in varsity sports and presented current and proposed combinations across West Seneca East and West teams.
She explained combining schools is governed by New York state rules and requires board approval, league approval and section approval; combinations are approved for one year and reviewed after the season. The director provided a breakdown of current combined programs — girls ice hockey (combined across five schools), girls bowling, field hockey, and unified teams — and presented fall and winter participation data by side of town.
Citing rising interest in several programs, the director proposed adding separate modified-level squads or B teams where numbers support them. Specific proposals included: demerging modified winter cheer (numbers increase allowed split), adding a modified B West girls volleyball team, adding a boys B basketball team on the east and west sides, and exploring a 7–8–9 modified girls flag football option in the spring as the section is introducing that format. The director said such moves would retain more athletes in the district and help build feeder programs that reduce the need for longer-term combinations.
Board members asked about logistics, identity and transportation for combined teams. The director said practice sites and turf availability drive decisions on which site hosts practices; administration seeks to schedule some games on both sides and to supply neutral jerseys for combined teams. Board members asked for data on how many students try out but do not make teams and for counts of 8th-grade students who leave the district before high school; administration agreed to provide additional numbers for future discussion.
No vote was taken; the athletics director said she will bring final combination requests and any necessary applications to the next board agenda for formal approval and for the league/section process.
