VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI — Superintendents from a number of districts in southwest Michigan are calling for the state to rethink its choice on college sports activities.
Twelve superintendents from Van Buren County districts signed a letter addressed to a number of state officers this week, urging them to reopen sports activities together with basketball, cheer and wrestling.
“Scholar participation in extra-curricular actions performs a necessary function at school engagement for numerous college students. Absent these actions, pupil well-being suffers,” the letter reads.
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The letter, addressed to Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies Director Elizabeth Hertel, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and MDHHS Chief Medical Government and Chief Deputy Director Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, stated colleges can compete involved sports activities safely.
“Because the superintendents of the general public colleges in Van Buren County, we’re unified in our dedication to guarantee that the protection of our college students stays our high precedence,” the letter reads.
Whitmer introduced an up to date restriction coverage on Friday, Jan. 22, that left contact sports activities equivalent to girls and boys basketball, wrestling, hockey and aggressive cheer on the sidelines, whereas eating places, lecture rooms and different venues will open in a restricted capability beginning Feb. 1.
The letter to state officers asking they rethink was signed by superintendents from Paw Paw, Mattawan, Lawton, Hartford, Decatur, Gobles, Bangor, Lawrence, Bloomingdale, South Haven and Covert colleges. The letter can also be signed by the superintendent of the Van Buren Intermediate Faculty District.
The superintendents stated college students can safely take part if strict well being and security protocols are adhered to, together with each day well being screenings, mask-wearing, efficient each day sanitation protocols and implementation of social-distancing practices when possible outdoors of the competitors area.
“We acknowledge that we will’t get rid of all dangers,” the letter reads. “However as we’ve confirmed over the previous 5 months, colleges are very profitable in mitigating danger by way of implementation of well being and security protocols.”
The superintendents stated college students’ social and emotional well-being has suffered through the pandemic and participation in sports activities would assist.
“If there’s knowledge/proof from states which have moved earlier than us exhibiting that resuming contact sports activities beneath strict protocols shouldn’t be protected, then please share it extensively,” the letter reads. “We have now not seen any such proof.
“This group is dedicated to security, and we totally consider that there’s a direct protected path again to participation and competitors for all of our winter sport athletes.”
Additionally on MLive:
‘Kicked in the teeth:’ Michigan high school basketball teams gutted by latest delay to winter season
Michigan high school wrestling coaches seek answers during shutdown of contact sports seasons
Let Them Play prepares to take battle for Michigan high school sports to the courts
