On January 22, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced high-risk high school sports could resume as early as February 1, 2021. While Governor Cuomo indicated high-risk sports could continue, he delegated the final decision to each county and its department of health. Consequently, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente delegated the final decision to individual school districts.
During a special meeting on February 3, the Westmoreland Central School District Board of Education approved the resumption of high-risk sports (varsity and modified basketball and volleyball) with no spectators. However, in order for high-risk sports to actually resume and an official start date to be determined, the district must comply with guidelines issued by Oneida County on February 3. Among those guidelines:
· The district must submit a preparedness plan for each high-risk sport to the Oneida County Department of Health for approval;
· Each sport-specific preparedness plan must be approved by the district’s medical director;
· Each parent/guardian and student-athlete must sign a district developed SARS-CoV-2 informed consent;
· The district must obtain medical clearance from each student-athlete’s healthcare provider; and
· The district must test each coach of a high-risk sport for COVID-19 every fourteen days.
The district is working to accurately interpret and comply with all of Oneida County’s requirements as quickly as possible. The district will communicate with the school community as soon as Oneida County reviews and makes a decision on each of the district’s sport-specific preparedness plans.
While the district awaits approval from Oneida County, parents and students are asked to fill out, sign and submit the following documents to Athletics Director Mr. Adey as soon as possible:
SARS-CoV-2 Consent Form – requires parent/guardian and student signature
Student Health History Form – requires parent/guardian and *physician* signature
Emergency Medical Authorization Form – requires parent/guardian and student signature
COVID-19 Testing Consent Form – requires parent/guardian signature
Click here to read all of Oneida County’s guidelines for high-risk sports to resume.
Click here to read the Westmoreland Central School District’s plan for high-risk sports to resume.
Practices cannot occur until approval has been granted by the Oneida County Department of Health. Also – all required paperwork must be filled out, signed and submitted before a student can participate in a sport.