Jackson-Madison schools pushes back fall sports; no athletic contests through Sept. 4

The Jackson-Madison County School System announced on Friday that it was moving fall sports back to Phase One of the reopening process.

This was decided in an emergency meeting of the JMCSS Senior Leadership Team with all 25 school principals in attendance.

"While many are deeply disappointed, this decision was made in the best interest of everyone's health and safety," Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ricky Catlett said via press release. "As a group, we have worked tirelessly over the last weeks to determine a safe return. That effort will continue as we navigate the fluid situation before us. As local COVID cases go down, we will continue to explore adding back the traditional in-person option."

This means that no athletic contests can happen until after Sept. 4 in football, girls soccer, golf, cross country or volleyball.

"The decision last night by (Superintendent) Dr. Marlon King was made for the safety of everybody," JMCSS athletic director Tim Gilmer said. "We felt that athletics had to follow suit. My whole idea through school and athletics through this pandemic has been let's do as much as we can, as safe as we can. When we sat down, we left like we needed to go back to Phase One."

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JMCSS decided Thursday evening to suspend in-person learning and use distance learning until further notice.

According to Gilmer, the first three weeks of the season have been canceled in all fall sports. In football that affects North Side's games against Beech, Haywood and Hardin County; South Side's games against Ripley, University School of Jackson and Chester County; and Liberty's games against Millington, Milan and Lexington. Week 3 games are against Region 6-4A opponents.

Gilmer said that the situation will be evaluated daily, and the schools can move back into Phase Two at any point. But once the games are canceled, they are canceled.

"Only the pandemic and what is going on will determine what we can do," Gilmer said.

Phase One includes voluntary practice, mainly conditioning and skill learning. It has to be done in small groups with no more than 10, including a coach. 

"When coaches were in Phase One this summer, our coaches did an outstanding job, and I know they will again," Gilmer said.

The Jackson-Madison Country Regional Health Department announced there are 387 confirmed active cases in the county as of Friday with 28 total deaths.

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.