When the Northampton Area High School Big “N” Band takes the field July 9 for the 2020-21 school year and season, it will not only practice fanfares, cadences and popular music, but also coronavirus protocol.

Northampton Area School District approved the Northampton Area High School COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan: Marching Band by a 7-0 vote at the June 22 board of education meeting.

The three-page document outlines requirements for band participants, officials and boosters. Its purpose is to outline procedures for practices and rehearsals by the NAHS Big “N” Marching Band during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its objective is to mitigate the risks of person-to-person transmission of the COVID-19 virus while practicing and performing live music.

The band’s activities follow social distance guidelines set forth by the Pennsylvania governor’s office and NASD. This plan may be updated or modified as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health changes.

Changes to the document will be made with the consent of the NASD administration and school board.

Procedures and recommendations are in accordance with the Health and Safety Plan: Marching Band and St. Luke’s University Health Network’s COVID-19 Resocialization of Sports: A Guide for Secondary Schools.

Mandatory requirements

• Face coverings: Students and staff must wear masks or face coverings when they arrive on site for health screening and when not participating in the activity and social distancing is challenging.

• Students and staff must wear masks or face coverings during activity if contact is closer than 6 feet for a period of time longer than 15 minutes. If students and staff are separated by more than 6 feet, then no mask is required.

• Students and staff may wear personal protective equipment items if they choose, as long as the items do not compromise the safety of the student or others participating in the activity.

• Students and staff will be provided with a health screening upon arrival, conducted by a St. Luke’s University Health Network employee.

• The temperature threshold is equal to or greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius.

• Anyone exhibiting a positive screen will be isolated and required to go home and follow up with a health care provider for evaluation and clearance.

• Students and staff will observe a minimum of a 6-feet distance between each other at all times.

• Instruments, water containers and equipment are not permitted to be shared.

• Each student must bring his or her own water bottle. Water bottles should be labeled with the student’s name. Students will not be able to participate if he or she does not bring his or her own water.

• Students will keep instruments and other equipment in cases at any point in time they are not using them directly.

• School equipment will be sanitized between rehearsals and at the conclusion of the day.

• Student participation is voluntary at this time, and no student should feel pressured to participate if they have concerns of COVID-19 transmission.

Facilities

• The NAHS Big “N” Band will use three facilities for practices and rehearsals: NAHS band room, with maximum capacity of 15 students; front NAHS upper parking lot, with maximum capacity of 25 students; and NAHS lower parking lot, with maximum capacity of 25 students.

• In the green phase, there can be up to 250 (coaches and students) at a time or 50 percent of facility occupancy, whichever is less, indoors and outdoors. Students must work within groups of no more than 25 participants. Students must stay with the same group throughout practice.

James J. Sansone is band director of NAHS Big “N” Band. Michael Lopata, NAHS assistant principal, is the contact person for questions relating to COVID-19 and the plan. Contact him at lopatam@nasdschools.org or 610-972-4812.

The NASD website also has information about the Big “N” Band at nasdschools.org/Page/1703.