Supporters of the waiver request, which had come from high school principals, said teenagers' emotional and mental health problems rising from the pandemic could only get worse if they're denied sports. The waiver, which passed in a 5-2 vote, was supported by the four board members who are current or retired educators.
"I can tell you teachers and coaches are such a big part of these kids' lives," said Dot Case, a retired civics teacher at North Henderson High School. "I just don't think we should jerk that out from under the kids that want to play sports."
Kathy Revis, a retired schoolteacher and administrator, argued for the waiver.