R-1 officials discuss limited seating, mask mandates, more at district basketball games

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 12/10/20

VIENNA — The administrators at Maries R-1 School in Vienna discussed options for keeping spectators safe while attending basketball games in the gym this season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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R-1 officials discuss limited seating, mask mandates, more at district basketball games

Posted

VIENNA — The administrators at Maries R-1 School in Vienna discussed options for keeping spectators safe while attending basketball games in the gym this season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the R-1 School Board’s November meeting, Superintendent Mark Parker said they probably will have to set a limit on the number of people in the gym at any one time. They will need to separate home and away fans, ask family groups to be seated together, and require the spectators to wear a mask when social distancing can’t be maintained. Parker said they are working out what system they will use to keep to around 25 percent capacity the number of spectators and may have to use a ticket system, but some families will need more tickets than others.

High School principal Ian Murray said he’s getting family lists from the players for people who may be attending the games. School Board President Vicki Bade said make a list, but don’t over complicate it. Murray said they have talked about giving them a badge to put on their clothing for easy identification of who should or should not be there.

Patrick Stites of the Phelps-Maries County Health Department has been working with the school on this issue. He offered recommendations and asked the school district administration to begin moving toward the changes.

The recommendation is to do a ticket voucher system to limit the occupancy of all events to about 25 percent. They can issue a number of vouchers to the players on each team for winter sports so parents and family are always able to attend if they choose. Also, a number of vouchers can be issued to the general student body. Stites suggested not allowing community admission to games at this time.

The health department also recommends all spectators be required to wear a mask while on school grounds, or at minimum while they are moving to and from their seats. If they can social/physical distance, this allows more leeway with the masks. He recommended keeping home fans and away visitors seated in separate sections. Some schools also are having a separate student seating section where students can sit safety distanced together if they would rather be with friends while at the game.