UIL delays events due to swine flu outbreak

By SCOTT TYLER
The Palestine Herald

ANDERSON COUNTY April 30, 2009 12:33 am

— Shock and support.
That was how area superintendents felt Wednesday afternoon after the University Interscholastic League made the decision to postpone or cancel all UIL athletic and academic events for the next two weeks because of the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas.
“I am shocked, but I fully respect and agree with trying to get this under control,” Grapeland ISD Superintendent Buddy Sumrall said, “but I did not expect to get this so soon.
“We want to do what is best for our students and we will face and conquer this before it is all over.”
The UIL decision came mid-morning Wednesday and effective immediately, all UIL competition has been suspended until May 11.
“I support the decision and we are concerned about the health of our students,” Slocum ISD Superintendent Fred Fulton said. “It is better to err on the side of caution than to have to make a later decision.”
According to a press release from the UIL, the decision was made on the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” Dr. Charles Breithaupt, UIL executive director, said in the press release. “Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of the disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe.”
According to The Associated Press, with 16 confirmed cases of swine flu in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced a disaster declaration Wednesday for the entire state. The declaration will allow officials to begin emergency protective measures and seek reimbursement from the federal government.
News of the UIL decision first reached the Associated Press about 11 a.m. Wednesday, but school officials were not notified until reading the press release on the UIL Web site.
“I was surprised,” Westwood ISD Superintendent Dr. Ed Lyman said. “We have to support those decisions because they have a lot more information than we do.
“The well-being of our kids is No. 1 and we can make up those games.”
Postponed UIL events include the academic state meet and the baseball and softball playoffs. The Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival and the regional track meets, which were to be held Friday and Saturday, have been canceled.
“Our leadership was put in a difficult decision when related to the balance of student health and student activities,” Cayuga Superintendent Dr. Rick Webb said. “I respect our leadership for their concern of the health and safety of our students.”
After news of the UIL’s action, area school districts also decided to do the same with class trips.
Palestine ISD announced it is postponing a band trip to Corpus Christi and a field trip to Houston until after May 11.
Frankston ISD Superintendent Austin Thacker said Frankston also is taking precautions, asking classes and organizations not to take any trips outside the community until after May 11.
On the UIL front, the decision affects track the most because the regional meets determine who qualifies for the state meet. The UIL has decided to take the top four times in each region from district results and run semifinal heats at the state meet. The state track meet, one of the largest high school track and field competitions in the country, will be extended from its normal two-days to a three-day event.
“It is disappointing for the kids who worked hard but now will not have a chance to compete to get to state,” Oakwood ISD Superintendent Richard Scoggin said. “But we completely understand the UIL’s decision because this is a serious health issue and we have to take into account the safety of everyone.”
Softball playoffs were scheduled to begin this week and baseball playoffs were to start next week. With the postponement, both sports will have to play two series a week to get to their respective state tournaments on schedule.
In other athletics, the state golf tournament and state tennis tournament will take place as scheduled the week of May 11 in Austin.
The academic state meet was scheduled for May 7-9 but will be rescheduled at a later date along with One-Act Play.
“We are just going to have to keep ready for whatever,” Sumrall said. “We will be ready for whenever it is time to compete.”
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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

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