The Newburgh Enlarged City School District will not go forward with high-risk sports this month.
In what was described as a “heavy-hearted” vote, the district’s Board of Education on Thursday voted against a resolution brought by Superintendent Robert Padilla that would have allowed junior varsity and varsity basketball and competitive cheer to compete interscholastically.
Practice would have started Friday with approval.
“We were all a little disappointed,” Newburgh boys’ basketball coach Frank Dinnocenzio said on Friday. “We understood it. That’s what’s happening right now.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Dept. of Health approved high-risk sports to go forward if the county health departments approved.

“I was excited because I thought maybe it would go,” Dinnocenzio said. “I never thought we would get to that point. We got excited it was going to go and started putting things in place.”
The Orange County Dept. of Health gave the authorization but required either a school board resolution or the written consent of the district superintendent of which sports will be permitted to play and which grades will be permitted and medical clearance for the athletes. Parents also would have been required to give their informed, written consent for the district Code of Conduct, which the district must retain digitally to be produced upon request.
Padilla also was planning to take an additional step to require having athletes take the rapid COVID-19 test before every competition.
“I recognize that this does put the Board of Education in a very precarious position,” Padilla said. “Just knowing what I know about you and how consistent you’ve been throughout this entire pandemic, I know what you’re wrestling with, and it’s valid. I also recognize we have children and families that have been very much looking forward to this.”
The Dept. of Health also indicated high-risk sports may be suspended if the local 7-day percent positivity rolling average exceeds the state average.
“This really heartbreaking and I know it’s heartbreaking for kids and families,” Board of Education President Carole Mimeo said. “I really think the Board of Health threw this in our laps and made a statement that they’re not positive about this.”
Last week’s resolution only pertains to winter high-risk sports. Administration and the Board of Education will discuss the Fall 2 high-risk sports – football, volleyball, and cheerleading – later. The Fall 2 season is scheduled to begin on March 1.
The district’s low- and moderate-risk winter sports – bowling, boys’ swimming, and winter track – began practicing in late January.
Wrestling was not considered for approval under the resolution.
Padilla said there were some other conditions to meet with regards to wrestling and as of Thursday night, 17 schools have opted out of wrestling in Section 9.
Board of Education President Vice President Philip Howard said he had been wrestling with the decision all weekend and thought about this being the last opportunity for some students to wear a Goldback uniform – or any uniform again.
School board member Mark Levinstein couldn’t reconcile the various COVID-19 restrictions against having student athletes from not only Newburgh, but other schools up close in a competitive contest and possibly bring that back to Newburgh or other schools.
“I just shake my head as to how the two extremes are there,” he said.
Howard gave the first “no” vote and appeared to wipe tears as he did, other board members added they voted “no” with “heavy hearts”.
“I get it,” Dinnocenzio said. “I watched it on YouTube. They were hesitant, and they were thinking of the kids. I can’t blame them. I get it.”