(July 29, 2011)
Yonkers Public Schools announced that Varsity Football will be a reality as part of the District’s limited Fall Sports Program. “While excellence in the classroom is essential, participation in athletics also provides intrinsic value to a student’s development,” said Yonkers Board of Education President Paresh Patel. “Although the District cannot guarantee a complete interscholastic athletics program, we will provide what we can.”
The early announcement of the reinstatement of Varsity Football is based on the Section I deadline for scheduling and practice requirements. The Trustees, however, are determined to provide an equitable allocation of sports for the Fall Varsity Program. They insist that the pain must be shared. The District will continue to structure the administration of its Fall schedule through August with a final list of Fall sports available at the beginning of the school year.
The Board of Trustees reviewed the Superintendent of Schools’ list of priority build-backs for September 2011. While they agreed that junior varsity and modified sports could not be saved, they directed him to begin reinstating as much of the Varsity Fall Sports Program as funding would allow.
Without additional support, including concessions from the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, the District’s ability to build back priorities, including its complete compliment of year-long varsity sports, is limited.
