On Wednesday the Jefferson Parish Council will take up a resolution to allow the Parish to rent out recreational facilities to schools in Orleans Parish for sports practice and games.
As Orleans Parish continues to stay in Phase II of COVID-19 restrictions, most sports, including football, are barred from being held.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, the resolution is sponsored by Councilman Dominick Impasto of Kenner and is likely to pass.
Impasto added the resolution to the council agenda for consideration came hours after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Orleans Parish Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno reiterated the Parish would remain in Phase II and that contact sports would continue to be prohibited.
The decision to not move or loosen restructions on campus sports comes after the Louisiana High School Athletics Association ok'd full contact sports games to start October 1st.
Impasto's resolution requires the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department to offer sports and other programs mimicking LHSAA rules and regulations. It opens up the allowance of tackle football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball.
Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee-Sheng told the paper: "We have been contacted by some schools to do practice. We are open to it, if we are not going to displace our programs."
It is possible the Shrine on Airline could be configured for high school football games if the operator, Louisiana Stadium Exposition District, is on board.
The paper reports the head of the LSED is working to come up with a list of protocols to allow the facility to host games while remaining within social distancing and proper hygiene guidelines.
"From an LSED and state perspective, we are more interested in giving the kids the opportunity to play," LSED Director Kyle France told the paper. "Hopefully we can work out something with Cox or somebody else to televise this."
Finally Mayor LaToya Cantrell has said she will not penalize schools that take advantage of holding practice and games outside of Orleans Parish.
"If people want to go outside the parish, they will be accountable for the decision," Cantrell stated.