EPISD, SISD & Canutillo suspending high school football, other athletics amid El Paso’s virus surge
EL PASO, Texas -- Three Borderland school districts are halting high school football games and other athletics for the time being amidst El Paso’s coronavirus surge.
The El Paso Independent School District is suspending the high school football season through Nov. 8, according to the head football coach at Jefferson High School.
Tony Martinez disclosed the school district's decision Monday on Twitter, writing "God willing we will return soon."
In a statement issued a short time later, EPISD's superintendent confirmed that all athletic activities were being placed on hold.
“We understand that sports and extracurricular activities are an important part of the student experience, but it has become abundantly clear that the health and safety of our community are at stake at this moment,” said Superintendent Juan Cabrera.
The Socorro Independent School District is also pausing football and all other athletics programs, the district's athletic director JJ Calderon tweeted Monday. He said information on return dates would come later.
The Canutillo Independent School District took similar action, saying in a statement Monday afternoon to ABC-7 that it too was suspending all athletic events and activities "until further notice."
The moves by EPISD, SISD and Canutillo ISD come a day after El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said local school districts had been advised they should postpone high school football and other sports events for the next two weeks because of the community's Covid-19 crisis.
Rising virus case loads and hospitals filled to capacity prompted the judge on Sunday to issue a county and city curfew nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. over the next two weeks.
EPISD suspending season through Nov. 8th. God willing we will return soon. 🙏
— Coach T. Martinez (@LaJeffFB) October 26, 2020
#TeamSISD is pausing high school athletics/fine arts programs per Judge Samaniego’s recommendation due to local health crisis. All practices/activities are cancelled. Information regarding upcoming competitions/potential return dates will be forthcoming. #maskup #washyourhands
— JJ Calderon (@CoachCal_ADM) October 26, 2020
