Some spectators will be allowed at Bradford Area School District’s outdoor sporting events this fall.
The school board voted on an updated athletic health and safety plan at Monday’s regular meeting that addressed spectators.
Athletic Director Mike Erickson talked about the changes before the board voted on them. He explained that since the guidelines were first announced, Gov. Tom Wolf has decided to allow spectators in attendance at sporting events as long as schools allow at maximum 25 people in indoor games and 250 at outdoor games.
These numbers include all the players, officials and coaches.
No spectators will be allowed at indoor volleyball and basketball games. In fact, the hallways will be used as the bench area in order to meet the 25-person limit in the gymnasium.
At outdoor varsity football games, a limited number of tickets will be distributed to participating students to give to parents or relatives. Tickets — one or two per participant — will be given first to seniors, and any remaining tickets can go to underclassmen.
The visiting team will not be allowed to bring band members, cheerleaders or fans to varsity football games.
Junior varsity and junior high football and soccer players will also receive tickets for their games. They do not anticipate reaching the 250 maximum at golf, cross country or tennis events.
All spectators must wear masks and must maintain six feet of social distancing to people not in the same household.
Distribution of tickets will be out of the athletic office, with coaches handing them out to players.
The board included an addendum to the athletic health and safety plan to not permit tickets for visiting team spectators.
After some discussion, the board voted in favor of the updated athletic guidelines.
Erickson noted that school resource officers plan on being on site at sporting events at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School and Bradford Area High School to assist.
While in-person spectators will be very limited at Bradford sporting events, everyone will be able to watch games online.
On Monday, the school district began livestreaming its first athletic events on Vimeo. Links will be posted on the district’s website and sent to families by the coaches, too.
Also at the meeting, Superintendent Katy Pude clarified misinformation that was being spread on Facebook. She said it is not true that the school district plans to shut down in November and go to online instruction.
Rather, the school has no intention to move to online instruction unless something changes, such as a sudden influx of COVID-19 in the district. The COVID-19 plan on the website outlines a plan for online instruction to prepare families if that becomes necessary.
“Our goal is to stay in school the whole school year,” Pude said.
District administrators are working to make sure internet access will be available to all students, too.
Under personnel changes, Erin Waugaman, principal of George G. Blaisdell Elementary School, will move to a different administrative position. The board approved hiring her as director of curriculum and instruction for a salary of $94,983.
Pude said the annual Reading Under the Lights will be held Oct. 2, but it will be split into two sessions.
Representing student council was President Grace Dalton.
Dalton said they are planning a virtual Zoom homecoming court event this year. There will not be a dance.
Students are also helping raise money for community organizations, she said.
