Leechburg Area amends policy to allow spectators at some sporting events - TribLIVE

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Leechburg Area School Board amended the district’s athletic safety plan and spectator policy Wednesday to allow spectators at some sporting events.

Previously, the district’s policy did not allow any spectators because of state covid-19 guidelines.

Now, up to 250 people will be allowed at outdoor events and up to 25 people will be permitted at indoor ones.

High school Principal Doug Rodgers said the numbers include staff, teams and referees.

Because of the lower number allowed for indoor gatherings, fans will not be permitted to attend Leechburg’s indoor sporting events, such as volleyball and basketball games.

For Leechburg’s football games, each Leechburg football player, band member and cheerleader will be issued one ticket for a person to attend a game.

Tickets are required for entry at the stadium gate.

“Please understand we do not like to limit the tickets to one per participant, but under the current guidance from our governor, this is what we must do,” the district said in an email to parents and guardians.

No tickets will be awarded for away games, Rodgers said.

Several residents in attendance at the board’s meeting inquired about viewing football games from outside the field — off school property, but along the fence lines.

Superintendent Tiffany Nix said that is permissible because that area isn’t school property, but borough police are warning spectators not to block the road.

Football spectators will be required wear masks, undergo a brief health screening and follow social distancing guidelines.

Rodgers said all home games will be livestreamed via YouTube at no charge, and he hopes opposing schools will do the same when Leechburg is on the road.

The concession stand operated by the Leechburg Area High School Mother’s Club will be closed for the entire football season.

In other business

• The school board will meet Sept. 23 to vote on whether to continue with the current online-only instruction model or move to a hybrid model.

The proposed hybrid model would include students attending in-person classes twice weekly and working remotely the remaining three days.

The state is recommending that school districts with a moderate level of covid-19 transmission use a hybrid model of instruction or go fully remote. For moderate status, a district must have an incidence rate of 10 to 100 cases per 100,000 residents or a covid-19 test positivity rate of 5% to 10%.

Leechburg has students from Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Both counties are in the moderate level, Nix said.

• The board accepted the resignation of Bradley Walker from the position of business manager/human resources director, effective Sept. 30. Walker worked in the district for four years. He said he accepted another business manager position with A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless, in a shared service agreement with Lenape Technical School in Manor Township.

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce at 724-226-7725 or jhanz@triblive.com.

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