Blue Springs School District wasting time, money with lawsuit over fans at football games
A hearing is set for Friday afternoon on a lawsuit that seeks to allow more fans in the stands at high school football games.
That’s right. The Blue Springs School District not only thinks playing football is safe in the middle of a deadly pandemic, but that limiting outdoor crowds to 100 people is “arbitrary and capricious,” placing an undue burden on parents, friends and others who want to watch a game.
Their lawsuit contends the district will suffer irreparable harm if more grown-ups aren’t allowed to watch kids play football.
This is a waste of time and taxpayer money, for both the school district plaintiffs and for Jackson County, which will have to defend the rule.
Watching Friday night football isn’t an essential activity. But let’s be clear. If the district prevails, most limits on mass gatherings in Missouri, inside or outside, are likely in jeopardy.
That’s because the suit claims the district is acting “in the interest of the liberty of the general public,” and seeks relief for their schools and others similarly situated. If the court decides the district, and not health experts, can set occupation limits, you can expect courtroom battles over every concert, street festival, school gathering, wedding and exhibition in the weeks to come.
They, too, will conclude attendance limits are arbitrary and not enforceable.
Or an adverse ruling could prompt Jackson County — or Kansas City, or other jurisdictions — to simply lift all restrictions and let the COVID-19 wave wash over the community. That would be a terrible result and would endanger lives.
The plaintiffs point out that the Kansas City Chiefs are allowed to have more than 16,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium, which is true. We opposed allowing fans to watch NFL games in part because it establishes a precedent for others to use.
Blue Springs has seized upon that argument. If the district wins, others will seek similar relief, and limits on mass gathering could become meaningless.
COVID-19 fatigue has undoubtedly taken hold here. School boards that were once determined to protect students’ health have reversed themselves, allowing football players to take the field. Courts are being asked to settle disagreements. Businesses are testing the reach of public restrictions, including mask orders. A mayoral recall petition drive is underway.
Some are tired of working from home. Some students have grown weary of virtual learning. All of us long for a return to normal.
But now is not the time for surrender to the virus. Earlier this month, the chief medical officers of virtually every hospital in the region talked about the area’s coronavirus mitigation efforts and said COVID-19 could become “uncontrollable” here if more isn’t done to slow its spread.
Not only will that inflict more pain on Kansas Citians, it also will make the sacrifices of the last six months worthless. And it will extend the pain from the coronavirus.
More than 190,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. That’s an average of 36 victims every hour, around the clock, since early February. About every 100 seconds, someone has died from COVID-19 in this country.
There are essential workers, and essential activities, and protected occupations in this pandemic. Attending a high school football game doesn’t fit in any of those categories. The court should dismiss the lawsuit, and Blue Springs should follow the rules that are focused on protecting public health.
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Blue Springs School District wasting time, money with lawsuit over fans at football games."