Feud Over West Hempstead Sports Fields Extends Into Overtime

"If you live in West Hempstead, you play for a West Hempstead team," said West Hempstead Board of Education member Carole Rilling at Tuesday's policy meeting.

Half the audience applauded while others mumbled in disagreement, a reaction that showed the division of opinions over the current field usage issues in the school district.

At board's policy meeting on Feb. 8, the main item on the agenda was a policy that was revised last December regarding the use of district sports fields and facilities by outside groups. The changes have generated backlash from parents and coaches whose children play on West Hempstead based sports teams, who say finding adequate field time has already been a problem that will now be exacerbated as additional leagues from outside the community are thrown into the mix.

After almost three hours of discussion and audience commentary, both of which were as divided in their opinions as Congress is now, the meeting ended in a consensus that the language of docket 0-172 about the use of facilities needed to be changed.  However, the fact that there was no complete consensus on how the language should be to revised resulted in a resounding scoff from both sides of the debate.

Read on for a full recap of the meeting.

 BATTLE OVER THE FIELDS: PART III

Board President Pamela Lotito preceded the discussion of the field-use policy Tuesday by informing the audience that no voting would take place that night and if they came to a consensus on something, it was only a consensus, not a vote.  A vote on the issue will come at the business meeting scheduled for Feb. 15.  She then asked Superintendent John Hogan to provide background on the issue.

Hogan explained that the issue has its roots in an incident over a year ago in which a women’s soccer team from a West Hempstead-based organization had been using a field, but the team itself only had two members from West Hempstead, out of a total 15.  Last year, the regulation was changed from requiring an entire organization to have 80 percent of members from West Hempstead to 80 percent of each team.

After some questions to Mr. Mystecki, the legal council to the board, Lotito gave the first opinion on the language of the policy.

“I would like it to be applied to West Hempstead groups and individual teams, and worded with a little leeway," she said.

“I agree,” said board member Carole Rilling. “They should have West Hempstead based organizations.”

“The intent has to be made if this is a decision about organizations or residents,” said board member Cynthia DiMiceli.  “The policy was created for taxpayers of the school district.  Are we looking at the part or the whole?”

Board member James Mariano pointed out that the limited field space has been an issue since the inception of the sports council.

“The biggest problem has always been letting everyone use the fields,” he said. “If we let other communities use the fields when there are barely enough for us…it’s opening a can of worms with other districts for them to come in.”

Noticing some reactions in the audience, he joked, “Yeah, I see you making faces at me, but we have these regulations, because of limited space.  We have to put West Hempstead based.”

Two main sides of the argument presented themselves as the meeting continued: crowded fields for all or plenty of space for some.

“If you live in the West Hempstead school district and you pay taxes…shouldn’t you be allowed to use the fields,” asked board member Anthony Brita, who was the first to submit an application to the board for a permit to use the district's facilities since the policy was changed. When he and other members voted in December to allow one of his kids' soccer teams to play in West Hempstead even though the league they participate in, New York HOTA Bavarian S.C., is based in Franklin Square, some parents were outraged. to read the recap of that meeting.

“It’s not other districts [using West Hempstead fields], it’s our residents,” said DiMiceli.  “If they play for HOTA, they’re still residents.  We can’t get into the politics of why they don’t play here.  We need to take into consideration all residents and…find a way for everybody to be happy.”

“It seems to be a general policy issue,” said board member Rudolf Schindler. “Since they all pay their taxes, supporting the local teams, they should be granted the opportunity...”

The opposing members felt that, while it is all well and good to provide facilities and field space to all West Hempstead residents, the revised policy could also bring in non-residents, resulting in overcrowding and safety issues.

“All we hear from sports people is that groups are constantly stepping over each other, and people with permission to use [the fields] can’t because another team needs to practice,” said board member Walter Ejnes.

Whatever side they chose, it was clear to the board that the language of the docket needed to be changed.  In an effort to move on from the issue, Lotito held a vote and the board came to the consensus that the language was no longer sufficient.  The floor was then turned to residents who chose to speak.

“We have limited field space already, and in the spring we usually lose it to lacrosse,” said Elaine McKay, a representative of the Chiefs soccer club.  “We have 50 teams on two fields…taking away more time and space would be a huge blow.”

“When you leave for another town, that’s the town you play for,” said Loraine Magaraci.  “If I send my kids to Kellenberg, can they come and eat their lunch here?”

“If someone leaves to play somewhere else, they’re not being denied the right to play.  They’re just playing a sport somewhere else,” said Jason Corrado.  “The board has to protect the majority of your residents.  That’s where your interest lies.”

Some chose not to pick sides.

“I came here to hear the other side of the story,” said Philip Miller.  “What it comes down to is our kids…Last year we got hit with bad budgets and we’re going to suffer again this year.  I just hope you take [the children’s] best interest into your decisions.”

The board’s council agreed to draw up a new draft of the regulations on which the board will be able to vote on at Tuesday’s business meeting.

BETTER SCHOOL LUNCHES SESSION

A much needed respite from the fierce fields debate came in the form of a presentation on school lunches.  A consultant from Aramark, the West Hempstead food services provider, brought news of progress in the choices students are making in picking lunches.

“Participation in the breakfast program has increased, but the menu hasn’t changed and enrollment has actually gone down,” said the representative.

Aramark will collaborate with school lunch coordinators to further the progress the school has made to “stay ahead of the curve,” including installing new equipment, working with budgets to allow for more fresh foods rather than prepared ones, and finding the trends that make students choose school food over bringing their own.

“My daughter buys organic peanut butter now instead of the regular brand because of her science teacher,” said Schindler.  “It’s great! He’s doing great things and now we eat better food…We should find trends that make the kids eat better.”

In accordance with the new nutrition act, the school must now find ways to obey federal laws regarding food standards.  The current cost for each meal hovers around $2 per student.  Complying with federal standards will require some adjustments to budgets to keep prices fair for all students while maintaining certain standards.

KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED

DiMiceli suggested the board offer the agenda for meetings online, as well as additional necessary information, online before meetings.

“It should be available to the public beforehand so that if they wanted to ask a question prior to a meeting, it will make it easier than asking those questions during a meeting,” she said.

Brita added that a set of guidelines for meeting decorum be provided for residents to be aware of the rules for public participation.

WHAT'S NEXT? The Board of Education Business meeting, when they will be voting on the field-use issues, and discussing other matters, will be held Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at West Hempstead High School.