Will fall sports happen in Washington state schools? No one knows for sure. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
As Washington state deals with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal said Thursday he expects “school districts to reopen buildings and return to in-person learning next school year, as long as public health guidelines allow them to do so.”
That plan, the most optimistic of options offered, would still include all students wearing face coverings.
Also, desks will be spaced six feet apart, students may attend class in gyms or lunch rooms, and schools will have to screen students and staff for coronavirus symptoms before they enter school buildings.
Just as likely, students will be sent back to on-line, or some combination of on-line and in-person learning, especially in areas where there are substantial spikes of the coronavirus.
New, positive cases of the virus are up 20% statewide since Memorial Day, as cities reopen from the initial shutdown.
While Island County has seen no new reported cases in weeks, Eastern Washington is a completely different case.
Yakima County has a 61% increase in positive cases since Memorial Day, while Spokane (49%), Benton (39%), and Clark (39%) are also substantially up.
No official decision has been made on whether schools will return to sports competition in the fall, but it seems increasingly likely there may not be one plan used for the entire state.
Instead, each district, and the leagues and schools inside that district, may operate on their own.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which governs public and private school sports in the state, is working on creating return-to-play guidelines on a sport-by-sport basis.
In a statement released after its June 7 meeting, the WIAA Executive Board said, “As we navigate return-to-play, schools in different regions of the state will inevitably be operating under circumstances and safety protocols unique to their area.
“The Executive Board determined that the primary mission of the WIAA is to provide opportunities in education-based athletics and activities.
“Participation in extracurricular sports and activities is a critical part of the high school experience and, sadly, that has never been more evident than when those opportunities were taken away this spring by COVID-19.
“The WIAA Executive Board and staff recognize that participation will need to take place in a setting that does not jeopardize the health and well-being of students or their communities, which is why we will continue to think creatively as an organization while also working with health officials at the state level.
“We encourage each district and league to work together to answer these questions at the local level as well. While WIAA staff will be available to support member schools in any way we can, each league has the autonomy to develop policies and contingency plans that represent their communities.”
Four questions answered in the statement:
**Will the WIAA conduct an athletics/activities regular season or championship if schools statewide are closed to in-person learning (apart from regularly scheduled school breaks)?
Though many large schools and urban schools may only have distance learning, the WIAA intends to conduct a regular season and/or championships assuming the Department of Health supports the recommendation.
At this time, the WIAA plans to begin the fall season as scheduled but is also examining a delayed start of September 7, 2020 (September 5 for football) as its primary contingency option.
**Will the WIAA conduct an athletics/activities regular season or championship if schools are closed only in COVID-19 “hotspots” in Washington (excluding participants from schools that are closed)?
Although not ideal, the WIAA intends to conduct a regular season and/or championships even if all schools are not able to participate.
**Will the WIAA conduct an athletics/activities regular season in sports deemed “lower-risk” for COVID-19 transmission while cancelling athletics/activities considered “higher-risk?”
The WIAA intends to conduct all scheduled fall athletics/activities that are approved by the DOH.
**Are there recommendations unique to Washington that we need to take into consideration when developing our 2020-2021 plans? This could include modified seasons, modified rules, etc.
The WIAA intends to commence sport/activity-specific work groups to recommend and evaluate modifications to rules. It is also recommended the Executive Board prioritize modified season options and determine decision deadlines.
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