December 31, 2021

To:   Superintendent Duràn, Arlington School Board, Arlington County Board

The Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools (APS), Francisco Duràn, announced Wednesday (12.29.21) that all in-person winter APS sports and extracurricular activities would be “paused” from December 30, 2021, through January 14, 2022, including practices, games, competitions, performances, clubs, theater, band, orchestra, chorus, and career and technical student organizations. This decision was made without any input from athletic and activity directors, coaches, parents, or students from any of the County’s schools, including its high schools.

Furthermore, this arbitrary and ill-conceived measure was instituted in direct contrast to the policies adopted by schools in all neighboring Virginia counties, including Fairfax (one of the largest and most influential in the country) and Loudoun, each of which is allowing in-person athletics and extracurricular activities to continue with reasonable, appropriate, and proven safety precautions to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. These proven measures are backed by empirical evidence from past experience with both in-person athletics and activities during the pandemic. They are also consistent with the current Covid-19 rules and guidance for in-person sports and activities from the Governor, the VHSL, and the Virginia Department of Health.

Perhaps most important, the pause decision was made without due regard for the best interests of the affected students. For example, the pause unfairly punishes our student-athletes, each of whom is required to be vaccinated,* tested daily, and follow all recommended Covid-19 protocols. Likewise, APS students in extracurricular activities must wear masks in school and follow APS health and safety guidelines. Ironically, these spread-mitigation strategies may make APS student-athletes and activity participants among the safest subgroups of people in Virginia. 

Also, while there are no data indicating that these groups of students contribute to an increased spread of Covid-19 in schools, organized athletic and extracurricular activities have consistently been shown to facilitate healthy student minds. Given the data underscoring higher rates of mental health issues for children and teens during the pandemic, why halt helpful activities?

Therefore, as concerned Arlington County students, coaches, fans, citizens, parents, and grandparents of APS student-athletes and students in extracurriculars, we object to any pause on sports and activities in our schools. Instead, as with past, successful APS athletic seasons and academic semesters during Covid-19, we ask Superintendent Duran to reverse the decision to pause and adopt less-draconian measures that will not punish student-athletes and activity participants, but rather elevate their best interests above unsupported pandemic “precautions.” For the proposed “pause” time frame, this could include masking during practices, games, and all other in-person activities, continued daily testing for athletes, and limitations on spectators.

The time to act is now. Every day counts, as every day has meaning for all APS students, pre-k through 12th grade – and high school students in particular, whose experience is relatively short and fleeting. Indeed, for the majority of APS high school student-athletes and activity participants, these will be their final years in organized band, drama, sports, etc. Ordering them to stop, while prevailing guidelines encourage them to continue with appropriate precautions – and while the students down the street in Fairfax and neighboring counties continue to play -- is unfair, unfounded, and unnecessary. #LetAPSPlay

*https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/health-safety-information/