The Buena Vista High School Administration has worked with the Chaffee County Public Health Department in reaching a determination to play football this Spring.
The decision was made after conferring not just with public health, but also with students involved, as well as the coaching staff for the Demon football program.
You can read a full copy of the letter below:
September 20, 2020
Buena Vista School District Football Families,
As you know, the state of Colorado High School Athletics has been on a roller coaster of decision-making regarding schedules and allowable play both last spring and in planning ahead to the 2020-21 season. No sport has seen more reversals, votes, advocacy and changes than football. As a district, we recognize this has made an already challenging situation for our student athletes even more so. In spite of the disappointment and uncertainty, we have seen our student athletes rise above like no others. From learning and participating in a new sport, to working out with even more focus, to giving through community service, our coaches and student athletes continue to choose optimism and resiliency – the same qualities developed through competition and commitment. Well done.
Late on Wednesday, September 16, Governor Polis and the State Covid Response Team made a fall and spring football season allowable in Colorado under many non-traditional restrictions and guidelines. Know that the week before, the CHSAA BOD voted to uphold the previously approved calendar from August as the Governors team had yet to approve variances that would allow football to be played. Late into the night on Wednesday, given the Governor’s declaration, CHSAA approved both a fall and spring season for football and outlined a schedule for individual districts to determine locally if they would play in fall (Season A) or spring (Season C). On Thursday, our Athletic Director, Troy Baker, was in contact with Salida School District Athletic Director as well as other schools in our league. At the same time, I was in continued conversation with Andrea Carlstrom, Chaffee County Public Health Executive Director, as I have been throughout the last months as we have made decisions about school re-opening and other student activities like workouts, graduation, and more. Decisions like these are complex. Weighing the risks and benefits requires collaboration and evaluation of student interest, physical and mental health, staff conditions, impact to learning, and opportunity gain/loss to name just a few.
In weighing the many factors in collaboration with our local public health, the Buena Vista School District has decided to participate in Season C (Spring) as was originally published by CHSAA in August. We believe this option prioritizes a commitment to in-person learning as we evaluate the impact of public health protocols on our schools, honors the plans our coaches put in place, and respects the decisions student-athletes and their families made for other fall activities.
We understand that during this roller coaster, clear communication was challenged. We further understand asking the players’ opinion regarding the season preference through a vote left families with questions. Like you, our coaches care deeply about the impact the disrupted season, made even harder with sometimes daily changes, is having on our student athletes. The coaching staff wanted to hear from the players. The district respects and honors the voice of our students and considers their perspective as one piece of information in many of our strategic decisions; however, the decision for Season C spring play was made by and is the responsibility of the BV School District leadership staff. The student voices were considered, as were many priorities, conditions, protocols, and especially the input from Chaffee County Public Health.
If you have additional questions, we invite you to contact any one of us. Athletic Director, Troy Baker, can be contacted at TroyB@bvschools.org or 719-395-7103.
We invite you all to continue to “lean in” as together, we support our students. They are watching us. May our actions continue to be in service to our children – they need us lifting up.
With respect,
Troy Baker
Athletic DirectorLisa Yates
SuperintendentJon Ail
BVHS PrincipalMatt Flavin, Kip Drawbridge, Greg Perrin, Dave Close, Oliver Reed, Jay Woolmington
BV Schools Football StaffAndrea Carlstrom
Chaffee County Public Health Director
