BOE raises concern over athletic facilities requiring vaccination

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Brianna Finch

Interim Superintendent Daniel Fishbein gave a presentation on the Pascack Valley Beekeeping Club’s honey extraction at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting at Pascack Hills High School. Members also discussed changing the venues of some athletic facilities that require the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Board of Education raised concerns about indoor athletic facilities requiring the COVID-19 vaccine during Monday night’s Board of Education Meeting at Pascack Hills. Unvaccinated winter athletes would be excluded from some athletic competitions. This includes the Bergen County Championships for Indoor Track which will be held at the Armory Track in New York City.

“New York City now requires that all individuals that enter their facilities and venues for athletic events such as the Armory [Track] be vaccinated for Covid-19,” Board Member Michael Weaver said. “It is concerning to me that our athletes would be excluded from participating in any team events if  vaccination is required and they don’t have [the vaccine].”

Weaver said that The Armory Track is used for the Bergen County Indoor Track Championships because it is a large enough facility to accommodate the number of people attending. If it was held in a New Jersey facility, the championship would need to occur over more than one day. 

Interim Superintendent Daniel Fishbein gave the monthly report about the district. He said Pascack Valley Regional High School District won second place in the website division of the New Jersey Schools Public Relations Association. Paul Zeller, the Director of Technology and Communications, accepted the award.

“Our website is a product of countless hours worked by students and staff,” Zeller said. “Students have helped design and revise the website with faculty and staff contributing content to the site to keep it current and relevant.” 

Fishbein gave a presentation on the honey extraction from the beehives at PV. Students in the Beekeeping Club extracted it and placed it in jars to be sold with the help of PV science teacher and adviser Kristen Lindstrom.

“Lindstrom’s dad who’s also a beekeeper has taught her a whole lot,” Fishbein said. “It’s great and more kids are involved when the word spreads.” 

Student Representative Evan Scalia from PV said that the Tri-M Honor Society members and the adviser Argine Safari recently started planning their first Winter Fest.

“[Winter Fest] will take place on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria,” Scalia said. “It will be open to any students interested in doing a vocal or instrumental performance.”