West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice Lets Marching Bands Perform At High School Football Games
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that marching bands will be allowed to perform at public school football games amid the coronavirus pandemic, reversing a governing body's ruling from a day earlier.
The Republican governor said the Secondary School Activities Commission's earlier decision was made without his input.
"As a coach and someone who is in our schools all the time, I appreciate how much our extracurricular activities, including our marching bands, mean to our students, parents, and communities," Justice said in a statement.
Justice said he directed medical experts to work with the SSAC and the state Department of Education to "go back to the drawing board to find a safe way for our marching bands to do what they love to do: perform."
The plan will require band members to maintain social distances while performing in stadiums on game days. Their families will be allowed to watch their performances.
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