State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala wrote to superintendents and principals throughout Illinois Wednesday night, urging them to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff as they approach their decision on whether or not to participate in the IHSA basketball season in 2020-21.
“We recognize the value of sports in students’ lives – but as COVID-19 cases rise across the state, the importance of following public health guidance has only increased,” Ayala said.
The IHSA announced on Wednesday that it would move forward with the regularly scheduled basketball season after IDPH and Gov. JB Pritzker moved basketball from a medium-risk to a high-risk sport on Tuesday.
The IDPH youth sports guidelines suggested a postponement of the youth basketball season. IHSA decided to go with guidance of the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and begin practices on Nov. 16. Games can begin on Nov. 30.
Ayala wrote, “We recognize the value of sports in students’ lives and share your hope that students can return safely to play this school year. However, at this moment, we urge you to prioritize health and safety, and to returning the 1.76 million students currently learning remotely to the classroom.
“The parents and families of Illinois have trusted us as leaders not only with the education of their children but with their health and safety while in our care. Public health experts have determined that basketball poses a high risk of COVID-19 transmission and is not currently safe to play.
“Defying the state’s public health guidance opens schools up to liability and other ramifications that may negatively impact school communities.”
What those “other ramifications” could be is still unknown.
During a press conference Wednesday, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson was asked if he was concerned about any legal ramifications towards the IHSA or school districts should they choose to continue with basketball.
When Anderson received a call notifying IHSA of the change in the risk status of basketball, he asked about ramifications for school districts.
Deputy Gov. for Education Jesse Ruiz told him that there could be ramifications from Illinois State Board of Education for public schools and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for private schools.
Anderson said that prior to the Oct. 28 board meeting, he had not consulted with legal counsel because he was unsure where the board would go on its decision.
He shared Ruiz’s comments with the IHSA Board.
Anderson said that he believed the board thought “those are going to have to be decisions that our local districts will determine if that warrants movement going forward.”
Anderson added that with modifications like all participants wearing masks during practice and competition, wellness checks before practice and competitions, and limiting gym capacity to 50 people, the IHSA feels they can provide a safe environment for athletes to compete.
“I think, over the next month or whatever time frame, we’ll figure out if this is a legal issue for us as an association or if it is for our schools and then we’ll have to pivot as we’ve been pivoting a number of times throughout this school year and beyond in dealing with COVID,” Anderson said.
“I think a lot of that is still yet to be seen.”
Ayala said that when entities work together in support of public health standards, schools and communities are safer.
“We are relying on superintendents and school leaders to make responsible choices to protect health and safety and to focus on bringing all of our students back to the classroom.”
