The Kentucky Board of Education wants the Kentucky High School Athletic Association to further consider its decision to move ahead with the plans for fall high school sports. At the end of a lengthy special virtual called meeting, which lasted nearly four hours, board members voted to send a letter to the KHSAA Board of Control urging the KHSAA to further consider “alternative options, additional guidance, and further clarification”, as it pertains to high contact fall high school sports in the state. The vote was unanimous at 10-0.
While the Board asked the KHSAA to further consider its decision, the Board stopped short of urging the KHSAA to shut down or delay its plan to start the fall sports season.
The meeting had sparked extensive debate coming into the day after rumors began circulating that the board might override the KHSAA and Governor Andy Beshear and elect to postpone or cancel the fall sports season, which is scheduled to start for all sports except golf the week of September 7th.
Ahead of the meeting, officials had stated that it was not on the agenda for the meeting to possibly cancel or delay the start of the high school sports season any further.
Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett addressed the board, presenting the plan the KHSAA had put in place for fall sports and the safety measures the association was recommending and mandating to local districts to allow sports to resume in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tackett discussed the extensive plans the KHSAA has put into place and the possible disciplinary actions for any programs that fail to follow mandates for allowing fall sports to progress. He also addressed attendance for fall sports, noting that from the KHSAA’s viewpoint, the matter is one for local school and health officials to decide.
Dr. Steven Stack also addressed the virtual meeting. Stack noted that he was not at the meeting to tell people not to play, but rather to provide available information, raise issues, and have people consider whether or not “it is worth playing.”
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, who is a board member, spoke at length about her concerns on resuming sports, recognizing that most Kentuckians are suffering “COVID fatigue.” She also expressed concern about the long term effects of the virus on young people in the commonwealth, noting a recent medical episode involving her son, who had previously tested positive.
Coleman additionally expressed concerns over the availability of necessary health care for minority students across the state.
From a sport standpoint, the Lt. Governor stated that they needed to be fair to athletes in both winter and spring sports as they consider what takes place with fall sports, noting the decision on fall sports could seriously impact the other two.
