Freeport Area School Board unanimously voted to approve fall sports with covid-19 guidelines in place.

The school board opened its Tuesday meeting with several messages from parents who said their children needed sports for their mental and physical health, college recruitment opportunities and socialization.

“Kids are not as resilient as we think they are,” said Buffalo Township’s Paula Mason, a hockey and golf booster club president whose son plays multiple sports in the district. “Do not take lightly the mental anguish this is causing our children.”

The school board also read a letter signed by seniors on the Freeport girls soccer team, many of whom have been playing the sport since they were 6. While they acknowledged covid-19 would impact some senior traditions, they said they were “still hopeful to maintain as much normalcy as possible.”

“We’ve spent many hours practicing and playing a game that we love,” they wrote. “The game and the team have become part of who we are as Freeport students.”

After hearing nearly 20 minutes of messages from concerned parents and athletes, the school board unanimously voted in favor of proceeding with fall sports.

This decision also will permit the marching band and cheerleaders to perform at home games.

The school district’s guidelines for returning to athletics include requiring face coverings, temperature checks and a covid-19 waiver.

According to the district’s plan, athletics enter “Phase 3” on Tuesday. That will allow full practice and game activity, while abiding by CDC guidelines.

The district reserves the right to suspend sports in response to any changes in the covid-19 pandemic.

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