Meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday.

There’s still a chance.

The Hanover Area school board will hold a special meeting on Monday at 5 p.m. for the purpose of taking a re-vote regarding its decision to not hold extracurricular activities in the fall, including all sports.

The board voted, 5-3, on Thursday to shut down all extracurricular activities over concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Board members Stacy Bleich, Vic Kopko, Michael Mazur, Joyce Potsko and Matthew Redick voted in favor of shutting down fall sports. Paul Holmgren, John Mahle and Richard Stevens voted against. Board member Frank Ciavarella was not present for the meeting, which was held via the Zoom virtual platform. Monday’s meeting will also be held via Zoom.

“I’ve been approached by a lot of parents,” said board president John Mahle. “I looked at the Wyoming Valley Conference and every school is playing except Hanover Area. I called the superintendent, I talked with our attorney and I talked with every board member. I asked if we could take another vote and nobody had a problem with it.”

Prior to the vote at the last meeting, school superintendent Nathan Barrett expressed his feelings that he is against a fall sports season, citing concerns over the coronavirus. He also cited how he found it difficult to hold extracurricular activities when school is being held virtually.

By Saturday, Barrett’s sentiments had not changed.

“I am still taking a strong stance based solely on the fact there were 10 new (coronavirus) cases in our zip code since last Friday,” Barrett said. “I am closely monitoring the numbers on the COVID dashboard. There is a reason I am against it.”

Hanover Area’s meeting on Monday will be the second of the day regarding fall sports.

The Valley West school board is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. to vote on the fall sports season. At its most recent meeting, the board vote finished, 4-4, but athletic teams were able to begin practicing based on the previous vote for the school’s safe return to play policy.

Earlier in the month, the PIAA Board of Directors voted, 25-5, to press forward with a fall sports season. The PIAA allowed local school boards and administrations to determine whether or not sports will be played.

“I’ve been on this board a long time,” Mahle said. “I always try to do the best that I can. I’m looking at it that it is not about the wins and losses. My vote is for the kids to let them play and to keep them safe.”