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Saturday 22 August 2020 | 12:27 AM
Hopewell main character Michael Allison is a former high school athlete and coach, the WPIAL treasurer and president of the Pennsylvania Principals Association.
He is also one of five PIAA board members Friday who voted against starting fall sports next week. Allison understands that his voice will not be popular with many, but it is a decision he did not take lightly.
“The last thing on earth I ever want to do is cancel high school sports schools,” Allison said. “I have spent years at the WPIAL serving children. I think a lot of people think I just wanted to cancel sports. That’s not the point. “
The vote went 25-5, allowing fall sports to begin Monday.
Goarman Tom Wolf wanted to delay youth sports until January to prevent potential spread of coronavirus, a “strong recommendation” that also supports key departments in his administration. The state departments of health and education both supported the delay in youth sports.
That is advice that Allison could not ignore.
“I strongly believe that we as school administrators have a responsibility to follow the recommendations of the Department of Health, the Governor and the Department of Education,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. All of us have health and safety plans in place to follow the recommendations. ”
Along with Allison, Pittsburgh Public Schools athletic director Karen Arnold also voted no. Two members with her in opposition sat three members representing individual school boards, principals and superintendents. Department of Education Representative Brian Campbell was one of two board members Friday.
Despite what the PIAA decided Friday, administrators of Pittsburgh Public School had already recommended slowing down fall sports. The school board will discuss the plans for the City League next week.
“I voted no, because the district has recommended postponing bankruptcy sports because of concerns for the health and safety of our students and staff and a compliance with the strong recommendation of Gov. Wolf,” Arnold said.
The WPIAL has now started supportively with the start of fall sports, but WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said she is okay with Allison voting no. Allison’s position was clear for Friday. The Pennsylvania Principals Association, with Allison as president, on Thursday released poll data showing 44% of members who wanted to respond delayed.
“He represents our board, and there are schools in the neighborhood that do not feel comfortable,” Scheuneman said earlier in the week.
The WPIAL has three voting members on the 32-person PIAA board. WPIAL President Scott Seltzer and Vice President Patrick Mannarino voted yes.
Allison wanted there to be another vote option on Friday, one that could have allowed low-risk sports to continue while contact sports were delayed.
“If you could convince me to vote yes, it would have been by separating contact sports from sports without contact,” he said. “I don’t see a scenario where playing contact sports – and especially football – can be safe without wearing a mask all the time.”
The PIAA board stepped forward with the support of the PIAA Advisory Council on Sports Medicine, which unanimously voted in July that “strict adherence by schools and teams to their plans for school and the guidance of the School Sport for Sports a reasonable safe environment should provide student athletes to participate in interscholastic athletics as currently planned. ”
The council met again Monday and did not change its recommendation.
“I spent 90-plus days, every day, at least eight hours a day, figuring out how to keep kids safe at school,” Allison said. ‘We have told children that you will have to wear masks all day at school. You will have to distance yourself socially at school.
“How can you, at 2.30 am, suddenly not have a social distance? And you can take off your mask just because you exercise? ‘
Allison insists he is not speaking for the WPIAL or Hopewell. He alone will not decide whether the Vikings will play football, soccer or other sports this fall. Those decisions rested with the superintendent and the school board.
“The mix of covid and sports is a recipe for disaster,” Allison said. “Schools will be completely closed and they will lose every opportunity to do something about it. I hope that does not happen. I pray every day that I’m wrong with it. ‘
Chris Harlan is a Staffune Review Staff Writer. You can contact Chris via email at [email protected] or via Twitter .
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