Wyandanch finishes strong and salvages its sports program
Most Long Island school districts have had the necessary funding and budget that are needed in order for students to have success both inside and outside of the classroom. This is quite the opposite for Wyandanch Memorial High School on Long Island. This district has become one of the few districts on Long Island that has lacked significant funding for years, forcing their sports and extracurricular activities to end in 2019.
Not only were sports taken away, but the school’s staff had to be cut dramatically. Layoffs became necessary, including up to 30 teachers as well as other staff members. Bus services and pre-kindergarten were also defunded as a result of the budget failing.
Tanisha Crawford, the social worker at Wyandanch Memorial High School spoke about the importance of a school’s budget and how it has a strong impact on a school’s athletic program.
“The school budget really dictates what resources we’re able to provide to the students. Two years ago the budget failed and as the result of that, the athletic and extracurricular activities departments were canceled.”
Once the sports program had been cut, attendance had dropped according to Mrs. Crawford.
“You don’t have a coach to guide you. You don’t have anything to look forward to outside of academics. We needed to provide an alternative for students to stay in the school.
Without extracurricular activities or sports, students have to go home to a living situation where both parents are out working, and that student may be influenced to do something they shouldn’t be doing. The athletic program gives our youth an alternative to follow their passion instead of being out in the streets.”
James Crawford is a football coach at Wyandanch Memorial High School and a member of the board in Wyandanch School District. Mr. Crawford has seen the immense role sports play in this community. While sports were taken away, the impact hurt the community as much as it had hurt the students.
“It was a very stressful, disheartening, and emotional process because sports is a huge tradition in our community. Sports are also one of those avenues where students look to be a part of the community. During games, a majority of the community would show up to cheer on their hometown.”
Mr. Crawford believes that students need to have a coach who will be able to help them grow and learn what it is like to work together as a team. Something that can’t happen if there isn’t a sports program.
“When students are not playing sports they will have a lack of motivation, not only in the classroom but outside of it as well. Sports is a key component to having a sense of respect for your peers and coaches. It helps you become a leader and unites people together. Students are able to have a sense of school pride when they put on a Wyandanch jersey.” Said Mr. Crawford.
The change happened a year later when the community started to donate to bring back what had been missing for too long. The goal was to raise over $300,000 in private donations in order to save the sports program and give additional resources and opportunities to students.
“It wasn’t until educators in the community and other groups came together and sought different ways to get that funding from the government and from grants. People donating that were able to on a very small level have been a part of bringing back sports in this district that is completely underfunded.” Said Mrs. Crawford.
Parents and people who lived in the community had done what they financially could to make the change, and thankfully the Suffolk County Police Department and the New York Jets donated a combined total of $175,000 towards athletics at Wyandanch Memorial High School.
“Sports is everything in this community, it’s an outlet and for most of the students here. It’s the reason why they come to school. The sports program has a tremendous impact, and for many, it is a way for them to get to college.” Said Volleyball coach Angelique Shannon.
Coach Shannon expresses the impact of the sports program. “This is what they have, the time they feel safe. They’re with their friends in a safe environment and they’re able to express themselves. It’s a true sense of belonging. Because of certain funds here, students don’t have access to many activities outside of sports. However, they know year in and year out they will always be able to count on being able to participate in their favorite sports.
Heather Sussman an Intern at Wyandanch Memorial High School works directly with the school social worker Mrs. Crawford and has seen the positive change sports have created for students.
“I speak with students whether it’s in person, on zoom, or phone multiple times a week. A majority of them are extremely passionate about sports. When it comes to Football and Basketball, the most popular sports here, students are not only playing for themselves and the team, but they’re representing a community that wants to see them succeed and will always support them no matter what.”
For a low-income district like Wyandanch, battling adversity has been no easy feat. However, the district remains strong. Focusing on doing more with less is an approach that has been taken. With an adopted budget of $71.7 million, it’s difficult for the school to incorporate other outlets for students to take part in until there is an increase in the budget.
“Right now, the only activities that a majority of students are participating in are sports. I would like to see the budget increase in the future so students here aren’t limited and can get the necessary exposure to other resources” Said Sussman.
Wyandanch Memorial High School is not the only school on Long Island that is challenged with a limited budget. Conversely, Wyandanch School District is the only district to have the budget not pass. It remains to be seen if the budget will get the increase it deserves. For now, the school’s students, faculty, and community will continue to do as best as they can.
