Bristol School Board Votes Down Fall Sports A 2nd Time

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — Bristol Township's school board has voted for a second time to keep the district's teams out of fall sports due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The board voted 5-3 on Wednesday night to uphold a decision it originally made last month. After the Aug. 25 vote, a group of parents, athletes and others spoke out, saying they did not feel their voices had been heard before the vote.

In response, the Bristol Township School District board held a town hall meeting on Aug. 31 to hear from representatives from each team and consider written comments from students, parents, coaches and others.

Wednesday's new vote upholds the decision to not approve the Suburban One League sports schedule and suspends athletics, band and cheerleading until further notice.

"The board’s decision was based on concerns about the safety of athletic competitions conducted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," schools Superintendent Melanie Gehrens said in a letter to the school community. "While the board would love to see the students compete in athletics safely, they know that this is the best decision to keep students, coaches, directors, staff members and their families safe."

Gehrens said the district's athletic department will work with coaches on plans to keep students active and engaged through voluntary off-season workouts. The board also has instructed the department to pursue alternatives that would let fall sports athletes compete at another time.

"This was a very difficult decision and we thank you again for your understanding," Gehrens said.

Bristol Township School District operates three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school serving 6,200 students in Levittown, Croydon and neighborhoods in Bristol and Fairless Hills.