Youth sports a driver of COVID-19 infections in St. Louis area | Education

At least five local districts have used some type of COVID-19 waiver for student athletes this summer — Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Wentzville, Francis Howell and St. Louis Public Schools.

Some school officials told Stockwell that parents had refused to sign the releases, he said.

“Everyone’s running a little bit scared because no one knows what we’re facing,” Stockwell said. “I hope everybody understands that the intentions are good, and even if somebody signs a waiver that doesn’t stop them from suing a school district.”

Hazelwood’s waiver traveled around social media this week, angering parents, including some who said it felt like schools were sacrificing children’s health for the sake of football.

“Our district has implemented unprecedented safety precautions in all of our buildings; however, it is important for parents to understand that school districts can only mitigate the risk of COVID-19,” reads a statement released Tuesday by the district in response to the backlash. “No district, organization, or business can offer 100% protection against exposure to a global pandemic.”

Several colleges, including the University of Missouri, have also asked athletes to agree to certain conditions before participating, advising them of the risks associated with COVID-19. Four out of 211 Mizzou student athletes tested last month were positive for the virus, university officials have said.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., introduced a bill last month that would bar such waivers in higher education and prohibit schools from pulling scholarships from athletes who opt out of playing because of coronavirus fears.