EAST HIGH SCHOOL

PHILLIP R. BRANGIFORTE JUDITH BLANCO

Headmaster Assistant Headmaster

CHARLES CAULEY JAMIE STARAITIS MELISSA CURLEY THERESA O’NEILL MICHAEL SMITH Mathematics Bilingual Program Director - Special Ed. Science FA / History

June 14, 2017

Mr. Bill Gaine MIAA Executive Deputy Director 33 Forge Parkway Franklin, Ma 02038

Dear Mr. Gaine:

We would like to appeal the proposed alignment that would place High School Baseball team into Division 2. Regardless of our first round loss in this year’s MIAA state tournament, our current male student-athlete numbers do not warrant a move to Division 2. Our male population is 797, 118 are nineteen years of age or older as of 12/24/16, 153 are ELD levels 1 & 2 (brand new to the country), 28 SLIFE (Students w/Limited or Interrupted Formal Education) students, and 31 who are significantly cognitively delayed and or physically handicapped. This leaves a truer male student-athlete pool of 467 male students. As we compare data to other schools, we see that Northeast Metro Reg. Vocational School 667, 558, Essex Technical High School 546, and Madison Park High School 508 all have a greater male student athlete number to pull from and are all currently slated for Division 3 play. which basically has the same number of male student-athletes and who beat us two times this past 16-17 season and is remaining in Division 3. In addition, 70% of our students’ families are below the poverty line, which prevents them from playing a sport as they are working to support their families. 100% of our students are on free or reduced lunch. No sport at East Boston High School makes student-athlete cuts as we are for the most part starving for athletes across all three seasons. We are asking that you please grant our appeal by allowing us to remain in Division 3. It would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you in Advance Sincerely Yours,

Phillip R. Brangiforte Headmaster

EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL, 86 WHITE STREET, EAST BOSTON, MA 02128  617 635-9896(P), 617 635-9726(F)