The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Staff outline proposed sports spectator policy
LANSDALE » No final decisions have been made yet, but the North Penn school board now has a clearer picture of how parents could soon be allowed to watch fall sports.
District officials gave an update Monday night on the latest guidelines from above on allowing spectators, and how the rules will likely differ by venue.
“The facts have changed. So has our opinion, to some degree,” said Assistant Superintendent Todd Bauer.
Last week the school board held a lengthy discussion on the topics needing further attention, discussion and information ahead of a possible return to in-person instruction, and tabled talks on amending their rules to allow spectators at fall sports that have returned. Since the Sept. 17 meeting, Bauer told the board’s Safe Schools committee on Monday night, further guidance has been issued by the state Department of Education, followed by added statements from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, and the Suburban One League in which the district participates.
The PDE statement “encourages schools to voluntarily enforce the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor gathering limitation” while state orders are litigated, while the PIAA guidance says that “discussion with your school board and local solicitor is appropriate so that each school considers all relevant factors” in modifying those limits.
The Suburban One League has similarly said that “each school district will make its own decision regarding allowing home spectators to home games,” while not permitting visiting spectators, “with the understanding that this is a fluid situation and subject to change.”
Bauer said he and district administration, including Superintendent Curt Dietrich, high school Principal Pete Nicholson and solicitor Kyle Somers, have been monitoring and discussing those latest statements and developments statewide, and begun to develop recommendations.
“It’s really in limbo who has the authority here, and there are some districts that are not following the 250-person outdoor gathering rule,” particularly in the western part of the state, Bauer said.
“We do not have that situation here in North Penn, because currently Crawford Stadium is under construction,” he said.