BEREA, Ohio — Berea City School District Superintendent Tracy Wheeler issued a position statement today (Aug. 20) approving the district’s participation in middle school and high school contact and non-contact sports for the fall season.

Specific information about participation will be forthcoming directly to families from coaches and the athletic director, Wheeler indicated.

In the statement, she emphasized that the district wants “to give the kids a chance.”

“If it becomes clear through our weekly check-ins that (social distancing/disinfection measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 are) not working, or that our students’/staff health is in jeopardy, we will be forced to suspend or cancel (sports and extracurricular activities),” Wheeler said.

The district is starting the academic year in remote-learning mode.

“Many will debate and ask why we can have athletics and not have in-person instruction,” she acknowledged. “We are trying to do the best we can to help our kids get through this difficult time. So far, they have proven to us that they can do this safely.”

Wheeler emphasized that students involved in athletics and extracurricular activities that began over the summer have been successfully following the proper protocols.

Her rationale for permitting fall sports consisted of several other points. She said there are a “significantly lower” number of people involved in sports and extracurricular activities, compared to the number of people who would be attending in-person classroom instruction throughout the district. Wheeler also noted that most fall sports take place outdoors or in larger indoor areas.

“These locations allow us to provide greater space to ensure more physical distancing,” she said. “Time spent together in a structured environment with safety protocols is better than what our students will be doing in the community without adult supervision and safety protocols in place.

“The BCSD will find ways to allow for extracurricular activities to continue to keep our kids connected to ‘school’ and their peers in a safe manner,” Wheeler said.

“We have committed to continually evaluating and monitoring the athletic program weekly so we can make the best decision in real time. To cancel the season now would take away from us all flexibility moving forward.”

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