Boise’s public high schools suspend summer sports after positive coronavirus cases
The Boise School District’s four public high schools suspended summer athletic practices and workouts on Friday, according to an email sent by the district to parents.
As of Friday, there are four confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four probables cases throughout the district’s high school athletic programs, the email said.
Boise, Borah, Capital and Timberline had begun the process of resuming athletic activities using a plan developed by leaders of the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conference that moves in step with Gov. Brad Little’s reopening plan.
But a recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Ada County forced Central District Health to move the county back to Stage 3. The Boise School District decided to follow suit Friday.
“This action, taken now, will improve our chances that scheduled fall practices and games may resume in August,” the email said.
The plan would have allowed for high school sports competition to resume Saturday had Little approved the state’s move out of Stage 4. Instead, Little announced Thursday that the state did not meet the metrics needed to move out of the final stage of the four-stage reopening plan.
The West Ada School District said it will continue to allow schools to hold workouts with small groups, district athletic director Jason Warr said.
“We are following CDH and the governor’s guidelines with less than 50 people and social distancing and all the precautionary measures,” Warr said.
Bishop Kelly, a private Catholic high school in Boise, will continue summer athletic practices but will not play any games, BK athletic director Tom Shanahan said.
“Our decision to continue with practices is guided by the most current medical advice from CDH,” Shanahan said. “In addition, I have made it compulsory that every BK coach must wear a mask any time they’re on our campus and instructing our athletes.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 2:27 PM.
