BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON – Some Section X sports players and their parents are expected to rally at the Section X office, 40 West Main Street, at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 1 (today) and at the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators meeting tonight at 6 p.m.

Despite a green light from the governor, the 24 school districts that make up Section X have opted not to move forward immediately with high-risk sports.

“The school districts that comprise Section X are asking our athletes, parents, and community for patience as we work on the required plans and assess Public Health guidance to make a potential season as safe as possible. The safety of our athletes is our number one concern as we continue to navigate this public health crisis. We will continue to work with our partners in public health to determine the best course of action moving forward.,” a release from St. Lawrence-Lewis County BOCES said.

Holding sports could prove logistically taxing even if Section X were to allow them.

Currently 11 of the 24 districts are fully remote and 747 students and staff members are quarantined.

In the North Country The Positivity Rate is 5.8 percent, about 1.4 percent higher than the state average.

Although St. Lawrence County Public Health did not make the decision to shutdown high-risk sports, officials acknowledged that they would create significant risk.

“Contact sports increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If schools and other organizations, athletes, and their parents/guardians choose to resume higher risk sports, they must do so in a safe manner and give considerable thought to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” St. Lawrence County Public Health Director Dr. Dana Olzenak-McGuire said.

But to some parents, the risks are outweighed by the damage done to students who are missing out on sports.

A letter circulated to parents called for rallies to be held today and said legal action could be taken.

“We have two parents that are currently contacting an attorney to see who we will sue over our students playing. If this appears to be a viable options for our group then we will be collecting money to pay for this,” the letter says.

The letter also called on students to picket their superintendents office.

“We need parents calling their school superintendent's and school board members. They are the one's that said no,” the letter says.

Additionally the letter says the group is working with USA Hockey to form the North Country Hockey League.

Although St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators are broadcast on Youtube, North Country This Week confirmed that the public will be allowed to attend the meeting in person.