Parents Not Happy As Antrim Sports In Point Beach Canceled

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – Some parents are not happy that Antrim Elementary School sports were canceled, and they want the district to change its stance.

Former Councilman Sean Hennessy, who is leading the effort, spoke to Patch and said he has a son in seventh grade who would normally be running cross country. He believes the school should find a way to get the programs going.

Hennessy said he understands that the school's league is not participating, but other school districts – such as Point Pleasant Boro – are going forward with their sports programs.

Pat Cavanaugh was quoted in The Ocean Star as saying that he has three children who would have participated in sports at the school this fall.

“We’re not asking the Board of Education to take all the burden,” Cavanaugh said in the report. “We have people who are ready, willing and able to volunteer and help out in any way that we can to see if this can happen for the kids.”

Superintendent William Smith said the G. Harold Antrim Elementary School is "keenly aware" of the benefits of middle school athletic programs.

"But it also invites athletes from several grades and classrooms (and thus, several cohorts) to participate in very close proximity to one another," he said.

Smith said 11 superintendents who participate in the school's athletic conference met to discuss the requests made by concerned parents.

"These well-seasoned educators were unanimous in their decision that a fall sports program would neither be prudent nor sustainable at this time," he said.

The administrators did discuss having a shortened fall season in early spring if coronavirus circumstances allow.

Smith said the Antrim school has a model that allows students to be in the building for an entire day, and it's been a successful strategy.

"As a result, we are giving our community the best chance at maintaining a school that is open for in-person instruction," he said. "In-person instruction best supports the mental health of our students."