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A Few Clouds District defends S.C. group’s use of fields
Malverne school officials say Offense Defense event complied with district policy
In what has become a contentious issue in the community, some residents demanded to know whether the Malverne School District recently violated state education law by allowing a South Carolina-based corporation to use its fields.
On May 5 and 6, Offense Defense, a football corporation based in Myrtle Beach, S.C., hosted a combine — an event at which players’ skills are assessed by top coaches — at the Malverne High School fields. Michael Taylor, founder and president of the Malverne Wildcats, a nonprofit youth football program founded in 2010, requested the use of the field for Offense Defense to bring its combine program to his players as well as Malverne High School athletes.
According to Spiro Colaitis, assistant superintendent for district operations, Taylor included his request in an application he filed with the district in February. Two weekends ago, however, the event sparked heated discussion after some parents of Malverne Mohawks lacrosse players learned that their children could not use the fields that weekend because the combine was taking place.
Some residents took to the “I Love Malverne . . . But Want More From Our Schools” Facebook group, expressing concern, saying that Offense Defense was not charged to use the fields. Some residents, citing the event’s flier, took issue with the fact that children were being charged to participate in the program: $45 for youth players and $55 for high school athletes.
Malverne resident Don Pupke, whose daughter is a Mohawks player, posted the flier on the Facebook page, and wrote: “Local residents are prohibited from using the field this weekend because a South Carolina company is using our new and expensive turf field to make a profit.”
Section 414 of the New York State Education Law states: “For meetings, entertainments and occasions where admission fees are charged … the proceeds thereof are to be expended for an educational or charitable purpose.”
Pupke said he believes the event was illegal. “They can say everything is fine,” he said, “but this is absolutely, in my opinion, not allowed by state educational law.”
