The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

Staff outline proposed sports spectator policy

- By Dan Sokil dsokil@21st-centurymed­ia.com @Dansokil on Twitter

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.

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