RE-1 Valley Schools to allow more fans at athletic events
District hopes to provide more student opportunities in fourth quarter
Logan County’s move to Level Blue on the state’s COVID-19 Dial means some changes to the number of fans allowed at RE-1 Valley School District athletic events.
“Exciting times to move to Blue on the COVID19 Dial. Thank you for all you have done in your personal lives to help heal our community and control the virus’s spread,” Superintendent Shila Adolf said in a letter to families that was posted on Facebook late Thursday evening.
In the letter, she shared that this week schools can have 225 fans as a combined total. Requirements still include masking, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene and will not change with movement on the Dial.
“A masking change can only be achieved by Governor Polis lifting the executive order,” Adolf explained.
Thursday, at the invitation of Logan County Commissioner Byron Pelton, the superintendent had an oppor tunity to address the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Association of High School Activities, county commissioners and other superintendents, regarding student-athletes masking.
“I am advocating for no masking
of students on the cour t. We shall see if the constant advocacy will pay off with a change in regulations. A masking change may be too slow for Season B, but will help us for Season C,” Adolf said.
Principals are making arrangements for allowing additional fans at games. The superintendent noted that the ability to host more fans depends on the size of the gym and the number of teams that will play that evening. Families have to social distance by six feet, as there is no freedom to pack the stands.
“Adding a student fan section and band and cheer opportunities are essential to ensure equity in accessing experiences,” Adolf said.
This week things will look ver y similar to last week for parents and there will be an open student section.
Adolf shared the following descriptions for what the guidelines will be for athletic fan participation for the next two weeks.
Feb. 26-28
Caliche High School: 6 fans per rostered athlete; student section signs up; clear gyms between JV games with fogging between JV and Varsity. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
Sterling High School: 4 home fans per athlete, 2 per athlete for visiting fans, additional opportunities for students including band, cheerleaders, and student fan section. Fogging between games and emptying the gym. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
Sterling Middle School: 4 for home fans. 2 for visitors. Fogging between games and emptying the gym. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
March 1-6
CHS: 6 fans per rostered
athlete; student section signs up; clear gyms between JV games with fogging between JV and Varsity. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
SHS: 6 home fans per athlete, 2 per athlete for visiting fans, additional opportunities for students including band, cheerleaders, and student fan section. Fogging between games and emptying the gym. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
SMS: 4 for home fans. 2 for visitors. Fogging between games and emptying the gym. Masking and social distancing between family groups.
In her letter, Adolf made it clear that the district’s primar y goal continues to be to protect and provide in-person learning.
“Maintaining that goal will be achieved by sur veillance of learning experiences beyond the classroom,” Adolf said, explaining that COVID rapid testing is one of those measures of surveillance. “The proactive measure to test the staf f and students has resulted in the preservation of in-person learning and more extracurricular oppor tunities.”
That data shows that rapid testing is helping. Adolf shared that approximately 83 students have been returned to learning and play within seven days, four boys basketball cohorts have been able to keep from quarantining, two girls basketball cohorts remained in play, and two COVID exposures were contained in wrestling.
Students that participate in extracurricular activities will be required to test. This includes both academic and sports learning experiences.
“The goal is to provide more opportunities in the fourth quarter, such as teachers teaching from their classrooms, FFA events, parent-teacher conferences, prom, graduation, etc. Not an exhaustive list, but we will see how it goes with the continued testing with staff and students over the next month,” Adolf said.
For now, things will remain very similar until two weeks following spring break. At that point, the district will see how far it can go.