Students Aim To Get JHS Back On Track [Poll]

Just under five months ago, Brandon McFarlane and Brian Campanelli were members of the Ferri Middle School boys' track team that finished first in the State Championships in the 4-by-100-meter relay.

The squad also took the top three places in the high jump and second through fourth in the 100-meter dash competitions.

But when they got to Johnston High School in September, McFarlane and Campanelli learned that they wouldn't be able to continue competing in outdoor track, since the high school doesn't have a team anymore.

"We got to the high school, and there's nothing," Campanelli said during an interview on Sept. 25 at the , where the duo were collecting signatures for a petition to restore the team.

Recent budget cuts — as well as federal Title IX rules that require schools to offer equal numbers of sports for boys and girls — led to the elimination of the program, McFarlane explained.

After just a couple of days, the two had collected nearly 30 signatures, including from all the members of the high school's senior cross-country team and Matt LaFazia from the Johnston Recreation Department.

The students also said they plan to bring their petition to the school committee and Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo within the next couple of months to ask that they restore funding for the program.

What do you think? Should JHS have an outdoor track team again? Take our poll, and post your comments below.