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MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- A group of Mamaroneck residents led a community fundraising initiative that raised $30,000 to reinstate seven sports teams that were cut in the 2010-2011 school budget and weren't included in the 2011-2012 budget.
Robin Levine, a Larchmont resident and mother, led the charge over the six weeks it took to reach the benchmark set by Dr. Robert Shaps, superintendant of schools, in June.
Shaps stipulated that the Mamaroneck Board of Education would accept a donation of no more than $30,000 to reinstate the seven sports teams. In a work session Tuesday morning, the board accepted their donation, in addition to $7,000 to enhance the "team experience" for students-athletes participating in those seven sports.
The sports being reinstated include: second team modified field hockey, volleyball, softball and girls basketball, the second teams for junior varsity boys soccer, freshman baseball and boys basketball.
On behalf of the entire district, I thank the community for its determination in raising these funds and its generosity in supporting our athletic program during these difficult budgetary times, Shaps said.
Currently, all interscholastic sports programs include a varsity, junior varsity, and modified team.
The commitment of our community to raise the money to reinstate these teams not only attests to the importance of ongoing opportunities for increased numbers of students to participate in our athletic program, but reinforces the strong belief in maintaining the progression of a sport from the modified level through varsity in order to remain successful and competitive, Levine said,
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