Yavneh Academy will once again be a member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, starting with the 2013-14 school year, athletic director David Zimmerman said Thursday.
“It’s an incredible step forward for our program,” Zimmerman said.
The move came after TAPPS last fall amended its bylaws to state that schedules would be worked around religious observances. Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist schools will no longer have to worry about playing Friday night or Saturday day games.
The issue was called into question last year when Houston Beren Academy advanced to the state tournament. Beren originally told it would have to play or forfeit any Shabbat games, but a court ruling forced TAPPS to change the schedule. Beren eventually lost in the state final.
Yavneh will join TAPPS District 4-3A, Zimmerman said. That district includes Bullard Brook Hill, Dallas First Baptist, Dallas Lutheran, McKinney Christian and Richardson Canyon Creek.
Yavneh had previously been in TAPPS through the 1999-2000 season. The boys basketball team won two district championships and made the state quarterfinals three times. The school left because of the Shabbat scheduling problem.
See more in the March 7 issue of the TJP.