Eastport board votes to allow fall sports

Following one of its longer discussions in some time, the Eastport School Committee, at its September 16 meeting, unanimously voted to allow the playing of high school fall sports with a limited number of spectators, while expressing concerns about the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Boys' and girls' soccer, cross country and golf teams will be able to begin competing in a season that was delayed until September 28, with the teams having to follow certain safety restrictions.
Local school boards are being allowed to decide whether to approve a sports program and whether to allow fans and to use buses for transportation. Some schools in Maine have cancelled fall sports, because they felt there is too great a risk for transmission of the coronavirus. In this area, Calais, Washington Academy, Machias and Narraguagus have decided to allow fall sports, but the school boards for Sumner and Jonesport-Beals voted against having sports this season. The Woodland board initially voted on September 15 against having fall sports but changed its vote two days later, after students held a peaceful protest of the decision. A protest also was held in Machias on September 16. Although some of the schools are in different Maine Principals' Association (MPA) sports classifications based on their enrollments, the Washington County schools all will be competing against each other this season, to limit travel outside the region.
The Eastport board initially considered not allowing any spectators at games, but then debated a motion to only allow parents of home team players. Board member Walter Cummings felt that students should be allowed to watch the games, although chair Elizabeth Hastings-Renner maintained that the school does not have enough staff "to police 100 people" that can be allowed at outdoor games. Cummings, though, felt teachers could be asked to monitor the games, but Principal Paul Theriault pointed out they are already pitching in a great deal to cover additional responsibilities to help keep students safe.
Superintendent Ken Johnson added that the supervising of adults could potentially lead to confrontations, if an adult who isn't following the rules is told they have to leave. He felt that allowing students to attend the games could lead to "a super-spreader event," as happened recently at a wedding in Millinocket.
Board member Will Bradbury expressed concern about spectators and noted that coaches would have to enforce any requirements. "We're in the middle of a pandemic," he stated. "I think we should take this seriously." He recommended that only the student athletes and their parents be allowed at the games. However, that motion failed on a 2-3 vote. The board then unanimously approved a motion to allow each player to invite beforehand no more than three people to watch a game, with the names to be kept on a list. The total number at the game will be fewer than 100. Games will also be videotaped and shown on the school's YouTube channel.
While the MPA has decided that football and volleyball will not be allowed this fall, schools can offer soccer, cross country and golf. Any outdoor games are limited to a total of 100 people, including the participants. Indoor activities are capped at 50 total. Theriault said he favored allowing fall sports, noting that the MPA had looked carefully at the data about sports and coronavirus transmission before making its decision. He pointed out that students who want to play sports could play for other programs that are not sponsored by schools and which may not follow safety protocols. "I'd prefer them under our protections," he said.
Concerning the school department's liability if a player or fan contracts COVID-19 from a game, Johnson said the school could be asked to verify that appropriate safety requirements were followed, and an investigation would ensue. "The obligation is very much on the school department that safety protocols are followed," he stated. He added that any liability waivers signed by students or parents would not protect a school board from responsibility. "We're still legally responsible for following COVID guidelines." He added that sports are not an educational right that students have, but rather are a privilege. He also noted that the risk of transmission of the disease is greater during the playing of sports, since participants are breathing harder and the virus is transmitted through water droplets.
Dana Bowen, one of the athletic directors for the schools, noted that student athletes will be watching a video about sports safety measures to prevent transmission of the virus. During practices they have had their temperatures checked and been wearing masks and maintaining social distancing requirements.
Theriault said if a positive COVID-19 case among players is reported after a game, "we would want to shut down the sport." Johnson added that it could lead to the closing of the school for a period of time, since the player could transmit the virus into the school population.

Reopening report
Concerning safety measures being followed with the reopening of Eastport schools on September 8, Theriault said, "We're doing everything we can possibly do at this time." He reported that all of the students are making a good effort in maintaining safety at the school, although reminders are needed to wear masks and keep a six-foot separation. Parental support has been "fantastic," and the staff "are willing to try anything to make this work."
With only 12 students allowed in each of the regular classrooms, all of the space in both school buildings has had to be used so that classes can be split up. Students want to talk "with their buddies," and it will take time to get them to change their habits. Local iReady testing will be done, since teachers have not seen students since last March.
The new Otus learning management system is working well for remote learning, with Theriault noting that Google Classroom, which was used this past spring, was not a sufficiently robust program. Amy Johnson has been hired as the remote learning coordinator, with funding provided through the CARES Act. New laptops did not arrive until the end of the first week of school, so staff were "scrambling" to get the devices out to students and troubleshoot any problems.
Students are being allowed now to switch once between remote and in-person learning, and then perhaps again at the end of the semester. Theriault noted that some high school students want to do remote learning because they don't want to wear masks all day and maintain physical separation. "They don't like the new rules," he said, adding, "But I think it's more difficult to learn from home."
Only 15 to 20 elementary students are riding the bus to school, with more parents bringing their children this year and more students walking to school.
Enrollment is up a little at the elementary school, at 98, but down a bit at the high school, at 78. However, the number of tuition students at Shead High School is down by only five over last year, which is fewer than had been expected.

Other action
The board approved the hiring of Laurie Sullivan as the new English teacher at Shead, replacing Corynne Zinni, who resigned, and the hiring of Vivian Merkley as the new social studies teacher, who will replace Connor Lynch, who resigned. Amanda Cox has been hired as a custodian and Kiley Sellers as a speech assistant.
Monies were left over from the summer application for lunch funding, so the school will be able to not charge students for school lunch this semester.
The board decided not to adopt a new policy of nepotism, which would not allow immediate family of board members to be employed by the school department. The board will continue with the current policy, which states that only spouses of board members cannot be employed in the school system.
Following an executive session, the board voted to rescind its motion for air quality testing at the high school that was approved at its August meeting. The proposal had been made by Mechanical Services, which has presented to the board a list of needs at both schools for work on heating, ventilation, electrical power and lighting systems.
The board approved, with Walter Cummings abstaining, the sole bid for bus fuel from R.H. Foster, at 5 cents off the daily per-gallon price, with a gas card that can be used at three local gas stations. The board also accepted the sole bid for bus repair, at $65 an hour, from Hallowell Family Parts and Repair of Pembroke.