El Paso pushes back fall high school season, in-person instruction due to coronavirus
In an unprecedented move Thursday morning, public health officials in El Paso announced that public and private schools in El Paso County will not reopen campuses until Sept. 8 to help the fight against the coronavirus.
It means high school athletics won’t start until students return to school in person.
Schools will start Aug. 17, but hold instruction online for the first three weeks.
Sports affected include cross country, volleyball and football in El Paso and Socorro Independent School Districts.
According to Felix Chavez of the El Paso Times, Clint and Canutillo districts said they will still start July 27 and Aug. 3, respectively. Ysleta ISD starts Aug. 3.
High schools in El Paso ISD: Andress, Austin, Bowie, Burges, Chapin, Coronado, El Paso, Franklin, Irvin and Jefferson.
High schools in Socorro ISD: Americas, Eastlake, El Dorado, Montwood, Pebble Hills and Socorro.
The first regular season football games in Texas are scheduled to start Aug. 27 while volleyball begins in early August.
The push-back means, if the seasons go on as planned, El Paso teams will lose out on the first two weeks of football. Volleyball will lose the first month, including tournament play and the start of district.
COVID-19 canceled the spring season, which included softball, baseball, track, tennis and golf, and the end of the boys basketball state tournament and soccer playoffs. Schools have been closed since March.
High school teams returned to campus for summer strength and conditioning workouts in June.
The Texas Education Agency released school guidelines on Tuesday stating that students returning to campuses this fall must screen themselves for symptoms for COVID-19 and must wear masks if Gov. Greg Abbott’s order mandating them is still in place.
