Governor Kim Reynolds announced at her daily press briefing Friday that schools will not reopen for the rest of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with that announcement comes the cancellation of the spring sports season throughout the state.

Director of Education Ann Lebo said “Closing schools to the end of the year is not an easy decision, and we do know the challenges this creates. But we also know this decision is necessary to ensure the health and safety of those we serve.” Governor Reynolds said the data just doesn’t support a safe return to school in early May.

School districts and spring sports participants were holding out hope that school and activities could resume on May 1st, the previous target date.

Director Lebo said that the possibility of summer sports will be reevaluated by June 1st. The IHSAA and IGHSAU had previously announced a tentative schedule if school could resume on May 1st but that is now scrapped. June 1st was the intended first competition date for softball and baseball but it seems now if a season is allowed to take place, it would be pushed back a bit further.