CHULA VISTA - The Park View Little League All Stars may have a harder trip through the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania because of their homework.
Eleven of the 14 players on the team attend middle schools in the Sweetwater Union High School District in Chula Vista, California. That district works on a year-round school schedule.
“All of the kids requested work,” said Rancho Del Rey Middle School principal Anna Pedroza. “We’re fully aware that their focus isn’t on academics right now.”
Pedroza said all the boys in the SUHSD system signed independent studies contracts before heading off to the West Regional tournament in San Bernardino.
SUHSD spokesman Manny Rubio said the schools are well prepared for situations like Park View. The district is used to it by now.
Park View’s All Stars won the entire Little League World Series in 2009, Eastlake’s All Stars won the US title in 2013, and the Sweetwater Valley All Stars were the West representatives in 2015. A vast majority of the boys on those teams attended Sweetwater Union middle schools and had the same course load of work.
School started in Chula Vista on July 20.
Pedroza said they’d celebrate the team when it returns from Williamsport.
“After we do that, then we’ll go bit by bit to get them reconnected to school but they deserve a chance to enjoy that ego,” she said.
Two boys attend Bonita Vista Middle School, which is also in SUHSD. The final three attend private schools.
Rancho Del Rey will host viewing parties for all the games in Williamsport.
