“These are not easy decisions, nor are they easy to implement,” Stewart said.
Questioned by lawmakers about athletics, Stewart said the administration’s position is that a school must reopen on the hybrid model – with a mix of instruction online and in person – before offering New Mexico Activities Association sports.
“Getting students back into the classroom needs to come first before schools go into sports,” Stewart said.
Human Services Secretary David Scrase said the administration and its medical advisers pored over medical literature to examine the risk of bringing students back to school.
It appears to be rare, he said, for students to transmit the virus to teachers.
February 3, 2021
Cobre board meeting gets heated during reopening, athletic discussions Written by Dean Thompson on February 3, 2021
The Cobre Schools Board of Education heard discussion on reopening in a hybrid model and allowing four-students-to-one-coach athletic pods and had a lengthy look at public input during their meeting Tuesday evening, which was held virtually.
Not only was there discussion, but more than one voice was raised during that discussion, to which board member Gabe Holguin toward the end of the meeting said, “I’d like to remind the board we’re all on the same team and we should maintain some professionalism and respect for each other’s opinions when we’re speaking. Body language speaks volumes, and it appears to me we’re not doing that and I’ll leave it at that.”
Since the shutdown of high school sports and performing arts last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each state has been looking for that proverbial light at the end of tunnel as a sign for restarting its programs. In some states, the light appeared quickly last fall; in others, it has taken many more miles to reach that light.Â
In the past couple of weeks, several states that have not been able toÂ
Play.Perform.Compete.Together since last spring, along with a few states that had been on pause due to government mandates, received the green light to proceed. The lights are no longer from an oncoming train in the tunnel; the lights are being turned on in gymnasiums, in auditoriums and on stages.Â