Published September 24. 2020 02:45PM

Panther Valley is increasing capacity at sporting events, following a recent court decision overturning Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders limiting crowd sizes due to COVID-19.

The Panther Valley School Board voted 5-2 Wednesday to increase capacity for indoor and outdoor sporting events to 25 percent.

“We’ve done graduation safely, we’ve done the opening safely, and I personally believe we can do this safely,” said school board President Daniel Matika.

School administration recommended that the board increase capacity following the recent federal court decision which declared Wolf’s limits on gatherings to be unconstitutional. Lawyers for the Wolf administration asked an appeals court to keep the rules in place temporarily while they appealed the decision, but were denied.

“Right now it’s deemed unconstitutional and back in the school’s hands,” said Superintendent David McAndrew.

The new limits go into effect immediately.

A home volleyball match tonight will allow 25 percent capacity.

When the team hosts Schuylkill Haven Friday night, they plan to allow a maximum of 800 people in the facility, including players and other participants, such as band, cheerleaders and JROTC cadets.

Priority will be given to parents of those participants. The district will distribute two tickets to the family of each participant, including away team players. The rest of the attendees will be first come, first served.

Athletic Director Kristin Black said the district will require masks to be worn, and they plan to conduct extra cleaning of commonly used surfaces in the gym area. Concession stands will not be operating.

Black said families will be able to sit together, but staff will be encouraging students to practice social distancing.

The majority of board members said 25 percent is a safe starting point to give family members an opportunity to see kids play. Before this week, athletes were only allowed one parent at each game. Renee DeMelfi called it a responsible decision.

“This is giving everyone the opportunity to see their child, to be there. We’re not telling them you can or can’t come, they have the option to be there,” DeMelfi said.

Allowing parents and family members is important because of the possibility of an injury, McAndrew said. Matika added that it should provide an emotional boost for the students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board members Irene Genther and William Mansberry voted against increasing the capacity to 25 percent. Genther said like everyone else, she misses the atmosphere of Friday night football. But she was wary of increasing the risk for people to possibly be exposed to COVID-19.

“I think it’s an added chance for contamination, and some people getting sick. To many, it’s not worth having one getting sick just to increase the numbers,” Genther said.