It’s official: No fall sports at Unionville

EAST MARLBOROUGH » There will be no fall sports at UnionvilleHigh School School District this year.

Patrick Crater, athletic director at the Uninville-Chadds Ford School District, made the announcement Monday night at the district’s school board meeting. The decision is in line with the recommendation from the Chester County Health Department, encouraging all sports programs in Chester County to postpone activities until at least the beginning of the new year.

“This is the most heartbreak

ing decision I have ever had to make,” Crater said. “Football was supposed to start two weeks ago, and we have been hanging on by a thread this past month.”

Recently, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association suggested that local school boards make their own decisions about whether to allow students to plan athletics this fall. But with the Chester County Health Department’s recommendation against playing sports, school officials are put in a tight spot.

“Everyone is Chester County is wrestling with the same thing,” said John Sanville, superintendent of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. “It’s so very difficult if we are going to follow the Chester County Health Department guidance relative to teaching school virtually until Oct. 9, why should we ignore the Health Department’s guidance as it relates to sports? I am an advocate of sports and it makes a positive difference in the lives of our children.”

Said Crater: “It’s quite a roller coaster ride. We believe our health and safety plan is very strong. I can’t ignore the recommendation of

the Chester County Health Department, especially during a pandemic.”

Crater said he would like to see a clarification from the Chester County Health Department allowing lowrisk sports like golf, tennis and cross country.

The district will pursue a consolidated sports season Jan. 4, 2021, if conditions permit.

“The silver lining is an alternate solution will give us a better chance to have an actual competitive season in the spring rather than stringing together a few games in the fall,” Crater said. “But there’s always the risk health conditions won’t permit a sports season after Jan. 1. I

am so sorry it’s come to this.”

Chad Williams of Birmingham Township told school directors that recent statistics show a declining number of coronavirus cases and argued that school should open for inperson instruction.

“There have been 206 (coronavirus) cases in Unionville School District since March 6,” he said. “There have been six deaths, and 85 percent of cases are in nursing homes. “Dr. Sanville has said it would be reckless to go back to school. In my view, based on these statistics, it’s reckless not to have our kids back in school. This is going to go down as a tragic mistake.”