Debate over sports in Lawrence schools heats up as coaches speak out

FROM NYSPHSAA

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced the start date for high risk winter sports (basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling) will be moved to January 4, 2021. Until authorization is granted by state officials, NYSPHSAA member schools are not permitted to participate in sports determined to be high risk by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

“The NYSPHSAA membership has expressed concerns pertaining to the increase in infection rates,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “Minimizing risk and exposure to COVID-19 is a top priority of the Association. We continue to make these types of decisions based upon readily available information and communication with state officials.”

Low and moderate risk winter sport practices (bowling, gymnastics, indoor track & field, skiing, and swimming & diving) are still on schedule to begin on November 30th for those schools and sections who have determined it feasible to host interscholastic athletics at that time. R

“NYSPHSAA’s leadership recognizes the numerous challenges interscholastic programs are experiencing and the obstacles associated with resuming high risk sports,” said Julie Bergman, NYSPHSAA President. “While it is certainly the goal of the Association to provide all students with the ability to participate in interscholastic athletics we must remain steadfast in our decisions to ensure the safety of our athletes is our focus.”

Lawrence Coaches Alliance

December 9, 2020 To Dr. Ann Pedersen & Lawrence School Board Trustees:

The Lawrence Public School community was made aware tonight that the district will not be participating in any high school sports for the 2020-21 school year irrespective of whether or not Nassau county allows high school athletics to commence. This decision was passed down by the Lawrence School Board trustees and superintendent Dr. Ann Pederson without any guidance from New York state, Nassau county or any officiating legislative body.

The official reason given was the COVID-19 pandemic and general safety concerns. There is very little evidence to support that claim. The Lawrence Public schools continue to have very low infection rates even as cases soar in surrounding communities. Many youth and travel sports have taken place safely for many months now without major spreading of the virus. There is absolutely no data showing that participation in athletic competitions have resulted in increased positive test results. It is difficult to believe that this is about the health and safety of the students when you realize, by cutting sports for the year, there are significant financial savings for the district to be had. This decision was not based on science, safety, or the best interest of students.

A school board trustee does what is best for the community they are elected to represent; which community does this school board represent? Considering not one board member has a child who attends public school, we believe this is a valid question. This board and superintendent have continually proven that they do not have the best interests of our students at heart. Lawrence is the only school on Long Island that has taken this drastic and unnecessary step prior to receiving official mandates from governing bodies.

This action by the board and Dr. Pederson have taken away future opportunities from our student-athletes. Many students in our community come from low-income households. Many of our students deal with incredibly difficult circumstances in their lives and use athletics as a stabilizing force that they can rely on. For many of these students, athletics is their best path to achieving a higher education. Exposure to colleges through public high school sports is even more important for our students than it is for athletes from affluent communities. Families from wealthier communities have the means to afford travel sports programs if their public-school teams don’t participate in the season, whereas many of our student athletes do not have that opportunity. This is a decision that must be reversed immediately. This decision will have a devastating impact on the current student athletes and the Lawrence Community which will reverberate for generations to come. Some decisions you do not come back from, this is one of them.

These students have worked incredibly hard preparing for a season that has now been harshly and abruptly snatched away from them. These kids deserve the opportunity to create memories, and be the Lawrence family that our administration claims we have always been.

Sincerely,

Proud Coaches of our Lawrence Golden Tornadoes