If you play football or volleyball at Ellsworth High School, you came dangerously close to not starting your sport on Sept. 7.

The Ellsworth Community School Board voted 4-3 Monday night to allow fall sports to move ahead on the WIAA fall schedule.

That certainly doesn’t mean it will stay that way. With COVID-19 guidelines, however, if the district is forced to put its season on hold because of illness with less than 50 percent of its games played, play can be picked up in the spring.

The special meeting Monday night was to tackle and brief the board on a number of COVID-19-related issues.

Superintendent Barry Cain and staff members walked the board through scenarios in new state health guidelines that could keep students and teachers at home for longer periods of time if they aren’t tested for COVID-19.

“We’re hearing that testing is taking four days in Pierce County right now,” Cain told the board.

People showing symptoms and family members could be out for up to 10 days or more if they aren’t tested. Staff members fall under the same rules, which could mean big problems for all schools.

“We lack subs, flat out,” said Cain. “It increases some challenges we have.”

Under previous guidance, teachers and students without symptoms for two days could return to school.

“This is going to be causing families to think ahead and have a plan A, B and C,” said Cain.

Cain said that if there are too many absences from staff, days off ultimately will need to be called, and it could lead to at-home learning again.

“All districts are grappling with this,” he said. “We have to try it and hope it’s not an impossible task to keep it going. I’d rather that we continue on and try our best.’ It was noted that seven student requests for not wearing masks have been submitted.

School nurse Bridget Nelson said her team will have to differentiate between COIVD-19 symptoms and allergies suffered by students.

“We know our students well, and we’re just going to do the best we can to keep the kiddos out who should be out,” she said. “It’s hard.”

“We’re all in a new world here,” said Cain.

Cain told the board that about 10 percent of students have elected to start the year with virtual learning and won’t be in the school building.

Board member Gary Kressin said it’s important for the wellbeing of students all around to be in school.

“I commend the Ellsworth Schools for doing what they can to keep these kids in school. COVID is a threat, but it’s not the only threat. These kids need to be in school,” he said noting statistics on youth depression and suicide.

The board then was led through a discussion on possible staff furloughs that would only be necessary as a last resort if school is called off for an extended period of time.

“If we did get into a situation where it’s a lengthy time off, you’d have to look at that,” he said.

The board decided to cross that bridge as a last resort, and stressed that they want to do all they can to keep teachers in the classroom.

“What we did in the spring – I would hope that would show the staff we’re going to do right by them,” Board President Doug Peterson said. ‘We’re going to look at this from every aspect, not just the financial aspect. Hopefully it never comes up.”

With those discussions fresh in their mind, Athletic Director Ann Huppert introduced what sports seasons will look like. Tennis, golf and cross country are already underway, and football and volleyball are set to start practice Sept. 7.

Volleyball will likely play without fans with team members masked and football admission will be severely limited by health department guidance. Fans are urged to check out live-streaming of varsity events which will be conducted on the We Are Ellsworth Facebook page.

There won’t be concessions at sports, and Cain said there’s a limit of 50 fans at outside events.

When middle school sports get underway, competition will be kept close among neighboring districts, rather than traveling distances.

Huppert is hoping live-streaming can be done at non-varsity sporting events as well.

“If you want sports, this is what it’s going to be,” Huppert said.

Some schools are voting to not have fall football and volleyball, and Ellsworth almost went that direction.

Peterson lobbied against having football and volleyball start now, especially considering how close-contact sports like those could lead to a spread of the virus. And a spread of the virus could shut down the school and trigger all the things mentioned earlier in the meeting.

“That’s the struggle I’m having with this. We allow full contact sports without wearing a mask (football)…It doesn’t add up to me,” he said. “I personally think we put our school year at risk by allowing full contact sports.”

He feared it would create a snowball effect.

“I really am having a hard time saying we should move forward with fall sports,” he said.

It was pointed out that WIAA guidance is that sports are good for the “social, emotional and physical welfare” of students. Peterson said that other things like music, band and drama are also being affected by COVID-19.

“I just don’t see how this is a wise choice and how that choice could affect district operations outside of Friday night,” he said.

Kressin pushed for football and volleyball to go on.

“COVID is an issue, but it’s not the only issue,” he reiterated from his comments earlier in the meeting.

Board member Steve Mark said he saw both sides of the issue.

“It still comes down to a parental decision,” he said.

One problem moving the seasons to spring is that there would be little local competition, and schools aren’t recommended to travel long distances for games. Some Coulee region teams are opting for spring, but that would be the closest to Ellsworth.

Schools need to let the WIAA know their schedule by Sept. 1 and at any time that the season can’t go on they can opt for spring, as long as 50 percent of the season hasn’t passed.

The board vote closed out the hour-plus long discussion, with Kressin, Mark, Kurt Buckner and Katie Feuerhelm voting in favor of the fall season as proposed, and Peterson, Susan Beck and Dana Glor voting against.