QUAKERTOWN, Pa. - The Quakertown Community School District Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday night to approve the athletic health and safety plan to allow fall sports to go forward.
Originally, the plan was going to require any student who plays contact sports to attend classes virtually, but the administration announced that after the board further reviewed the matter, the requirement was dropped.
The plan does require parents of students participating in athletics to sign a consent and waiver form that recognizes the student may have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
The waiver also limits a parent’s ability to file a claim against the district if their student should contract the virus.
The approved plan does not allow any spectators.
But several board members said that they favored issuing passes to each football player to allow at least two parents or guardians to attend.
Board member Ron Jackson said that the stadium could accommodate a group of family members for each team member and still maintain 6 feet of separation.
“I don’t see why we can’t do that,” Jackson said. “I understand it flies in the face of 250 people at outdoor events, but that’s an arbitrary number.”
But Athletic Director Sylvia Kalazs told the board that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is not allowing spectators at the games, other than coaches, staff, cheerleaders and band members.
The district does plan to livestream all home football games.
Some board members questioned whether the spectator issue was a PIAA suggestion or a mandate.
Board President Kaylyn Mitchell said that the board could revisit the issue prior to the first scheduled football game on Oct. 2.
Before the school board meeting, a “let them play” rally was held by parents and students outside the high school.
In another matter, the board voted 7-2 to approve the charges for the 2020 elementary redistricting committee.
The charges include:
- Developing options for the grade level configuration and redistricting of elementary students.
- Evaluating options based on academic program and the impact on facilities, including the future use of Quakertown Elementary and the Sixth Grade Center.
- Reporting findings and recommendations to the board no later than Jan. 31, 2021.
Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards said that redistricting is necessary to establish new elementary boundaries so that the district is using the buildings appropriately.
Edwards said that with the new space being added to the Neidig Elementary School, that building will only be at 50% capacity.
Board members Chris Spear and Brian Reimers cast dissenting votes,
Spear said that he wanted to change the second charge to ensure it does not include recommendations to close any buildings.
“Our situation with COVID-19 does not allow us the flexibility to be missing another building,” Spear said. “Can we have the charge to equally balance the elementary schools without any discussion of closing buildings?”
Board member Keith Micucci disagreed.
“Emotionally speaking, your point sounds reasonable,” Micucci said. “If you don’t explore it now, then we’ll be going into the next budget season scrambling at the 23rd hour to make cuts.
“It’s more worrisome to me to be forced to make a hasty decision without the process which we could have enabled now.”
The board learned Thursday that the district may be facing a $5 million deficit this year.
Mitchell said that it would be irresponsible of the board not to look at all options.
Also Thursday, the board heard a report from Jamie Lynch, project manager for D’Huy Engineering, with an update on the Neidig Elementary renovation project.
Although Lynch said that everything is looking good to meet the deadline of Sept. 14 for the start of school, he would not guarantee the date.
“It all depends on finishing all of the systems and getting an occupancy permit from the borough’s code officials,” Lynch said.
The renovations include a gymnasium addition, a two-story classroom wing expansion, a complete interior renovation and new HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems.
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Quakertown school board gives thumbs-up to fall sports - 69News WFMZ-TV
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