State Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, believes that local school districts should have more of a say in the decision-making process regarding athletics and other extracurricular activities.

Passage of House Bill 2787, he noted, could defeat a possible shutdown by the Wolf Administration of sports and extracurriculars this fall.

“Board members are elected officials. They know their districts better than anyone,” he said.

In late July, the PIAA announced its plan to resume fall sports, but without spectators.

Gov. Tom Wolf later said he felt it best that school sports not take place until at least Jan. 1.

The abrupt announcement, Wheeland noted, was both “unjust and disrespectful” to student athletes and their parents as well as schools and PIAA officials working to conduct fall sports safely.

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said he too could support the bill.

“I think school districts should be the ones making the decisions,” he said.

Everett said there has been frustration by Republican lawmakers of the governor’s policies regarding the reopening of communities, schools and businesses with regard to COVID-19.

Wheeland said he’s hopeful of the legislation being passed along with House Bill 2788 which would allow students and families to have the option to continue a student’s education and extracurricular activities for an additional year to make up for the loss of instruction and competition during the past and upcoming school year.

“I think they have a chance to be passed, but also vetoed,” Everett said.

Earlier legislation he sponsored which included language to allow counties to determine how many people can be seated inside local restaurants failed to gain passage.

Everett said county officials have a much better handle on what is happening in their own areas than those at the state level.

“That makes more sense than making decisions in Harrisburg,” he said.