KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Blue Springs R-IV School District will now have significantly more fans in the stands at football games after Jackson County revised an emergency order related to gatherings, and a lawsuit filed by the district against the county also has been dismissed.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the district said it will now limit fan attendance at stadiums to 20% of the total capacity or 1,000 spectators. Everyone in attendance will be required to stay with their family unit and must wear masks.
Concession stands will not be open, and social distancing will be required when moving throughout the stadium.
"This revision will allow district and visiting families the opportunity to watch their student play or participate in events held at our district stadiums," the district said in a statement. "Many of our district parents had been completely excluded or forced to decide which one person from the family may attend."
The district last month filed a lawsuit against Jackson County Health Director Bridgette Shaffer over an emergency health order that limited the size of outdoor gatherings — including football games at school stadiums — to 100 people or fewer, arguing the restrictions were "arbitrary and unreasonable."
Despite the county's order, Blue Springs had initially established a policy that allowed for far greater numbers at district athletic events. When more than 400 fans attended Blue Springs' Aug. 28 season opener against Liberty, the Jackson County Health Department issued a notice of noncompliance and threatened a possible ban on all spectators for the rest of the season.
Last week, the health department reversed course and amended its order, saying it would no longer automatically limit gatherings to 100 people or fewer. Instead, such gatherings will now require permission from the county’s Environmental Health Department.
The new order takes effect Friday afternoon. The county did not say whether it had revised the order in response to the then-pending lawsuit filed by the Blue Springs School District.
A spokeswoman for the county did say that any school district in eastern Jackson County now can submit a request for permission to have more than 100 fans at sporting events and other gatherings.
Records showed the lawsuit filed by the Blue Springs School District was dismissed Wednesday in Jackson County Court. The district said all legal fees were paid by donations from the community and that district money was not used for the litigation.
