Thursday, June 11, 2020
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CIAC unveils plan for fall sports season
PEACEFUL PROTEST
By Bryant Carpenter Record-Journal staff
CHESHIRE — For Connecticut high school students, there is light at the end of the tunnel. On Friday, the CIAC released guidelines for the “resocialization” for scholastic sports and other activities. Resocialization: That’s a one big word for “gettin’ back at it.” Albeit, by degrees.
Amid nationwide unrest over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, people marched in Berlin Sunday to protest racism and the deaths of unarmed African Americans at the hands of police. More photos on pages 11 and 12. Photo by S. Stafford
In-person public hearing discussed By Everett Bishop The Citizen
The next Town Council meeting could look a bit different, as councilors are debating if they should meet in-person for the first time since COVID-19 hit the U.S.
The meeting, slotted for Tuesday, June 16, includes a public hearing on an or-
dinance extending tax exemptions “to charitable, religious, or non-profit” organizations that are leasing property. The meeting would be held the day before Phase 2 of Governor Lamont’s reopening plan goes into effect, which would allow amusement parks, hotels, indoor dining establish-
ments, libraries, gyms and personal care services to resume business.
The CIAC guidelines, drawn up in conjunction with the Connecticut State Medical Society Sports Medicine Committee, map out a gradual and phased return to activity throughout July and August. They follow much along the lines of recommendations already issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Mayor Mark Kaczynski introduced the idea of an inperson meeting. He said joining the councilors would be a few members of the general public who wished to speak.
Sports are categorized from “low risk” — such as cross country — to “high risk” — such as football — and the recommendations for each vary accordingly.
See Hearing, A20
The suggested course of action is detailed and touches
upon multiple bases, such as the opening of facilities, the size of gatherings, the sanitizing of equipment, the hygiene and health screening of players. Target dates are included, but the plan is fluid, subject to change based on the progress of the coronavirus and Gov. Ned Lamont’s reopening plan for the Connecticut. On that front, the picture is promising. On Friday, the governor pushed up the launch of Phase II of his plan from June 20 to June 17. Phase II includes the reopening of gyms, fitness studios, bowling alleys and some youth sports programs. The CIAC, in issuing its recommendations, emphasized safety and caution in resuming activities. The CIAC also leaves considerable discretion to individual school districts. “It is understood that the guidelines do not fully mitigate any COVID-19 risk and, therefore, school districts, parents, athletes, coaches, and officials should make inSee CIAC, A21
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Volume 22, Number 15