Columbus City Schools announced on Aug. 13 that the district will suspend all in-person interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
This suspension of in-person activities will go into effect on Aug. 14, to allow athletic teams to close out their preseason activities and collect any equipment needed.
CCS will continue to evaluate this suspension as the district monitors the Ohio Public Health Advisory Alert System and guidance from Columbus Public Health officials.
“Today’s decision is a difficult one, but throughout this pandemic, our top priority has been the health and safety of our students, their families, our staff, and the Columbus community,” said CCS Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon. “We all know how important athletics and extracurricular activities are to our students, as well as the fabric of our schools and the communities they serve. But we also know the importance of protecting the health and safety of our students and those communities. We must make our decisions about the fall with that in mind.
“The spread of COVID-19 in our district boundaries continues to grow, and our local health officials have advised us against moving forward with in-person sports and activities. As we have with all other decisions, we will heed the guidance of the medical professionals who are acting in the best interest of our community. If we get additional guidance that recommends allowing in-person activities, we will reevaluate this suspension.”
CCS high school athletic teams have been permitted to participate in limited summer training and workouts since July 1. Those activities will be suspended from occurring beginning on Aug. 14. The district will start the school year with all virtual classes on Sept. 8.
