The 2019 North Penn Boys Water Polo team celebrates their state title.
In the middle of a long North Penn School District Board meeting last Thursday night, at which the board voted on a date for students to return to school, they also considered whether to expand facilities’ access for a number of student sports teams and groups.
The issue came up during public comment, when Janine Burns, of Lansdale, informed the board that the North Penn High School water polo teams have not been allowed to use the NPHS natatorium for practices and have been instead practicing outside at White’s Road pool. That may have been fine in August and early September, but with the changing seasons, Burns said that the teams had hardly practiced in the pool at all recently, because of cool air and frigid water temperatures.
“Our water polo teams have been adhering to the PIAA and Suburban One COVID-safety guidelines since they started back, without incident,” Burns said. “All of the other water polo teams in the area have already moved their practices inside, except North Penn.”
Because the weather and the outdoor pool have been too cold to use, North Penn’s water polo teams have been forced to use dry-land conditioning in place of in-pool water polo practice.
“Running isn’t exactly the same substitute as treading water,” Burns said.
Several other parents echoed Burns’ sentiments.
Paula Angelucci, of Lansdale, doesn’t understand why other polo teams are practicing safely in their home pools, but not North Penn.
“I know I speak for a majority of the parents, where we have 100% trust in the coaches and the safety precautions that they have put into place for our children,” she said. “We haven’t had any cases among other polo teams indoors. Our team is playing in other districts’ pools and staying safe, and there’s really no reason why we can’t play in our own pool and be safe.”
Another parent, Dan Dunigan, of Lansdale, said the polo and swim teams should be allowed to use the pool because they’ve shown that they can stick to COVID protocols.
“These athletes have been together for weeks and weeks, without incident,” Dunigan said. “Not one, not nothing, zero, absolute zero… I’m the guy who emailed you about not looking at absolute zero, it’s not worth it, it’s generally not attainable. But look! These guys did it, and they deserve to be rewarded.”
Dunigan also pointed out that in the pool is probably one of the safest places they can be.
“Our athletes train in a sanitizing solution of chlorine,” he said. “So, the concerns for athletes in a facility should be nil.”
Amy Hutchinson, of Lansdale, said she is concerned about the possible impact on future prospects of aquatic athletes.
“Some of these kids would like to probably play in college and will not be looked at as seriously, because they aren’t able to practice and play to their absolute potential without being able to play and practice in the pool,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson went on to highlight the potential health issues that could arise as a result of having kids practicing in a pool that’s too cold.
“Also, I wanted to bring up the water temperatures,” she said. “If we’re so concerned about safety of our children, I think hypothermia at this point is probably more likely than COVID.”
Finally, school board member Juliane Ramić said she’s been hearing from teachers who want to start extracurricular activities back up.
“I think we’ve spoken about the importance of those extracurricular activities and helping students find a balance during these unprecedented and very difficult times,” Ramić said. “We have passed a safe-to-play plan… that outlines how we will operate athletics. And that does include how to operate safely in a natatorium. We made the step to encourage that team to continue to play outside, but given the unseasonably cool weather in the month of September, it has meant that in the last two weeks the players have been in the water for one day.”
Ramić made a motion to allow the water polo teams back into the natatorium for practices for the remaining three weeks of their season, in accordance with guidelines outlined in the previously approved return-to-play plan.
What followed was a heated discussion, with board member Dr. Elisha Gee objecting to only water polo being mentioned in Ramić’s motion, when there are over 80 other student organizations at North Penn not currently allowed to gather, meet or practice under the current COVID guidelines.
“I’m disappointed that this is even being brought up to the board for new business,” Gee said. “And while I support all athletes, I’m a mother of an athlete, I also believe it’s our job to represent all 13,000 students in North Penn.”
“In the end, this is an issue of privilege and equity,” Gee said.
Board member Al Roesch, who seconded Ramić’s motion, respectfully disagreed with Gee.
“It’s not a matter of equity, it’s not a matter of privilege, it’s a matter of doing what’s best for the students of the school district, and to phrase it that way makes me sad,” Roesch said. “Are we going to help the students we can help? Or are we going to stand on a perceived principle?”
Board Vice President Christian Fusco said the board has also received many emails from parents of students who play volleyball, who have been forced to practice their indoor sport outside.
“I do feel like we’ve continued to move goal posts on issues pertaining to sports, and I am firmly of the belief that we spend a lot of time focused on sports when we still have students not in buildings,” Fusco said.
But with a motion on the table to allow the water polo teams to use the school facilities, the board voted 5-4 to approve the decision.
Gee then made another motion, to allow other student groups, teams and clubs to access school buildings and facilities, aligned with the district’s safety plan, which was approved, 8-1, with Fusco the lone dissenter.
“I want these students to be able to do this, but until we put students in the buildings, I can’t vote in favor of this,” Fusco said.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd Bauer said it will be the responsibility of each student organization to submit a safety plan to the administration, which will be evaluated and approved if sufficient.
“With each club and activity, I think it’s a doable project if the advisor of the club submits a plan… for approval within the confines of the health and safety plan, and the return-to-play plan if that applies, I think we can do it,” Bauer said. “But I think we have to put the responsibility on the club to submit to us how they are going to maintain student safety."
See also:
North Penn School Board Votes On Return-To-School Timeline, Dates Announced
Discussions Continue Regarding How And When To Reopen North Penn Schools
North Penn Holds Preliminary Discussion On Potentially Reopening Schools Under Hybrid Model
Parents Express Concerns, Frustrations With Distance Learning At North Penn School Board Meeting
Editorial: North Penn Continues To Show It’s Up For Challenges Posed By COVID-19
