USD 333 mulls fans at games after KSHSAA ruling

Reversing course on an earlier ruling, the Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) approved allowing a limited number of spectators to attend high school and middle school winter sports events and activities.
The KSHSAA board had approved not allowing spectators to attend events through January 28 because of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, during a meeting on November 24.
During a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the board voted 54-24 to allowing up to two parents or guardians per participant(s) family as allowed by local board of education or health department restrictions to attend activities. The new rule becomes effective Thursday and continues through January 28.
Participants include players, coaches, student managers, cheer squads, dance teams, pep bands and student journalists.
Concordia Unified School District 333 superintendent of schools Quentin Breese said that the district's administrative team met with representatives from the five other schools that compete in the North Central Kansas League on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue, but no consensus was reached because of the difference in facilities in each district.
The decision on whether or not to allow fans will be left up to the local school boards and administrators of each district.
“It is definitely a conundrum we are trying to work through here,” Breese said.
Breese said that the administrative team will continue to work on developing a plan. The issue will be discussed with the board of education and local health care officials.
Guidelines for universal face coverings and social distancing approved by the KSHSAA board are expected to be followed.
All participants, including but not limited to athletes, coaches, officials, support staff and all others attending/participating in school activities, shall wear a face covering in the manner it is intended to be worn for the purpose of COVID-19 risk mitigation while at the event venue and for the duration of the event. The only exception is provided for athletes during the time they are competing and for officials during active play.