At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board reorganization meeting, held Dec. 7, the board unanimously re-elected Wayne Grim and William Fonzone Sr. as president and vice president, respectively, of the board for 2021.

During the board meeting that followed, Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Lorie Hackett reminded board members the East Penn Conference, which includes 18 local schools, voted Dec. 4 to postpone its winter sports competitions until Jan. 15, 2021.

Hackett said winter sports practices at WCSD began Nov. 27 and include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls swimming, boys wrestling and competitive cheering.

“Our practices follow all of the requirements of the health and safety plan. All athletes self-screen prior to practice, and all athletes and coaches are wearing their masks, as per the latest order,” Hackett said. “Social distancing occurs as often as possible. This, of course, is not achievable during many of the practices.”

According to Hackett, both Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke’s University Health Network have strongly recommended the postponement of winter sports competitions until mid-January 2021, and the guidance they released to sports organizations states there is a higher PCR (nasal swab) positivity rate than there was in early fall.

This is the sixth week of substantial spread, with a PCR rate of 14.3 percent at the time the guidance was issued. The networks anticipate hospitalization rates will double what they were in March and April, and a peak in cases is expected to occur in the beginning of January 2021.

The networks also said winter sports, such as wrestling and basketball, are considered high risk due to being indoors, and schools should do everything they can to reduce the risk of spreading the virus and instead focus on academics and keeping schools open for in-person learning as long as possible.

Currently, WCSD has nonleague athletic competitions set to begin Dec. 15. Hackett asked the board to decide whether nonleague competitions should be moved to the week of Jan. 11, 2021, as well.

Board member Tina Koren made a motion to delay all district winter sports athletic competitions until Jan. 11, 2021, and continue with practices as scheduled, but the motion was not seconded.

In other news, the board approved the committed fund balance resolution.

The board approved the Pennsylvania School Boards Association superintendent search agreement with the school district.

Also approved was a retainer agreement between D’Huy Engineering Inc. and WCSD, subject to administration and solicitor approval.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 14.

Committee meetings on education/student activities, operations/transportation and finance/personnel will be 4 p.m. Dec. 21.