Residents of the Frewsburg and Southwestern school districts learned last week about talks between the districts to share sports teams.

Shared teams aren’t new. They’re been a growing part of the interscholastic sports landscape both in Chautauqua County and the rest of the state for years. But what’s being considered at Frewsburg and Southwestern is different. Rather than sharing a team or two, the districts are talking about a large-scale sharing of sports that would formally include several teams in all three high school sports seasons.

Southwestern has lost 7.7% of its student population over the past 10 years while Frewsburg has lost 11.9% of its students. Similar declines are happening in rural areas throughout the state. Census Bureau reports don’t show the trend of population decline getting better anytime soon.

Our county’s declining population likely means the discussions between Southwestern and Frewsburg are going to be the first in a series of such proposals, not the last. The timelines to field teams are such that it will be easier to be proactive with partnerships than trying to arrange them at the last minute. And, the partnerships can bring on-field success – look no further than the Clymer/Sherman/Panama football team for proof.

Shared sports teams are opening lines of communication between school districts that weren’t necessary decades ago. Those open lines of communication should be used on talks that will open up student opportunities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as after school hours.