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Tate Drama Production Has Not Been Canceled, But Will Be Different Due To COVID-19 Protocols
April 21, 2021
Dozens of people contacted NorthEscambia.com Tuesday after receiving word that this week’s scheduled Tate High School drama performance been canceled at the eleventh hour due to the pandemic. Many expressed anger that the show would not go on while sporting events are allowed to continue.
We reached out to Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith and Tate High School Principal Rick Shackle for answers.
“I think there was confusion at the school over a drama production,” Smith said Tuesday afternoon.” “There has been no change whatsoever to (COVID-19) protocols that have been in place all year.”
Shackle said events were scheduled at Tate earlier this school year with the hopes that they could take place as normal, but the pandemic protocols never changed.
“We have things on the calendar that allow students to work toward them,” the principal said. “As far as the play goes, the drama department was fully aware from that beginning that it might not take place with an audience.”
The spring show with shorts “Hamlette” and “Mmmbeth”, based on the works of Shakespeare, will go on without an audience and will be streamed online Saturday night. Complete details, including any cost and time, were still be worked out Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s not an everything is back to normal, but it’s a win-win for the students and the parents,” Shackle said. “It’s especially important for the seniors.”
“These protocols have been in place, and I understand people are just ready to be done with them. I get that,” Smith said. “We are all tired of the pandemic. It’s been very difficult for seniors to miss proms and all of their senior activities. People have held their own events and done their own things with their friends. But at school, we have worked with the health department and have just done the best we can for the health and safety of our students and staff members.”
The superintendent said athletic events have continued with in-person fans due to contractual obligations with the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Shackle said Tate High School is also working on plans to also steam upcoming band and chorus events.
Parents from both Northview and Tate high schools held two separate “proms” this past Saturday night for students, but they were private events unaffiliated with the schools or district.
File photo.
Comments
13 Responses to “Tate Drama Production Has Not Been Canceled, But Will Be Different Due To COVID-19 Protocols”
I have 2 students. 1 is a super athlete, the other is an amazing performing arts student. My athlete gets to do everything – and I am thankful. My band student has everything canceled. I love both my children the same, I wish Escambia County Schools did the same. This can be fixed Mr. Superintendent – let them perform outdoors.
Bob, you clearly have no one in the school system. Teachers can wear masks and so can kids. Extra curricular activities are optional. Scared? Don’t go. It’s very selfish to expect all kids and teachers to “protect” the few. They have them choice to do virtual school or wear masks. This is not only my opinion, but the opinion of fellow teachers, parents, and students. I have seen EXTREME mental issues due to the restrictions.
@FedUp
I’m disappointed to hear that you believe your kid’s right to have fun is more important than the health and safety of your community.
There are immunocompromised teachers, kids who live at home with their grandparents, and janitorial staff that should not be subjected to potential infection because your child is bored.
@Bob=Sheep
@Fed up.Your 110% correct with what you said it’s sad to say but superintendent is just like the wonderful mayor Pensacola has.not
Dr. Smith tells us there hasn’t been a change in protocol… but if that’s the case, why was the band able to have a concert in March, but not now? We were planning to have an *outdoor* concert in a couple of weeks, but now we can’t, despite the fact that outdoor band performances have been approved since before school started (check the FAQs on the school district reopening page).
This experimental year to appease people has shown there have been no super spreader events in schools. What has happened, however, is kids missed out on basic milestones, memories, and activities. It has shown us that the kids need normalcy and need social interactions and extracurricular activities. There have been more than enough options for parents who are worried. Time to move on and let these kids live. Masks should be optional, activities should go on, and life should resume. As a parent of a middle schools and someone who works in the school, the mental repercussions have far outweighed the potential for illness in kids. Scared? Do virtual school. It’s time to give these kids back the best years of their lives and to stop inducing fear.
These kids have followed protocol all year. If nothing has changed then why were they able to have a show in January but not now???? Cast wore mask, shortened performance, no intermission, limited seating, guest wore mask, more that 6ft social distancing, no concession, no silent auction (which means no fund raising for a department that is already financially strapped). Dr. Smith and Mr. Shackle could have seen this first hand if they would have bothered showing up to any of the 4 performances.
Typical Tate high school for ya all about the sports but can careless about any student that’s not in a sports program pathetic.
When Dr Smith speaks of protocols being in place in one hand and contractual obligations to FHSAA in the other he is showing everyone where the disconnect is. Something he and his staff can easily fix. Escambia County is treating our students differently. Allowing one type of student to participate in something but not the other type of student. So, because of a contract are we are allowing one thing and not the other. OK, how about we start the…. Fine Arts Performance School Association. We can have a 1 dollar contract with the county that FORCES them to allow students to participate in fine arts performances…..WAIT an even better idea. We will now keep score at all fine arts performances and at the end of each season we will crown a champion! That should allow the band . chorus, orchestra, and drama clubs to battle it out. (Think the FHSAA would sanction those events?)The thing is, it really shouldn’t even get to that type of a solution. It should be common sense that you are discriminating against a type of student and it should be stopped. I have an athlete and a fine arts student. Nobody wants sports to stop, certainly not me. I do want my fine arts student to be treated equally to the athlete one though. You have the ability, you have the power, and you have the right to stand up against this. Understand this, the issue is not with the State of Florida, just one small county over in Pace they had band concerts, at school during the day. Counties are allowed to make their own decision about these things. Escambia county is the issue. Please spread the word and contact your School Board representatives, Dr Smith, and any School official that you feel might need to hear your voice. That is how things will change.
@Geneva
Our country is open. We never closed. We decided that haircuts and Applebees were more important than protecting our neighbors, and 600,000 people died as a result.
The kids get to perform. It won’t be to a live audience, but at least they can showcase what they have been working on.
Let’s finish getting people vaccinated and stop the spread first, then I will be completely on board with you.
This is CRAP. Taking away from all fine arts kids (drama, band, etc). Let’s lead them on with “hope” of getting to do this and yank it from them in the 11th hour. I have a band kid and their concert has been canceled & no senior banquet according to my band kid! Yet they DID indeed have a prom last weekend (indoors, mind you)…sports are still playing & carrying on. I also have athletic kid in sports so I’m partial to both! This excuse I read in this article is just CRAP!! Band was allowed to play at football games when pandemic was worse. You can bet I will be contacting school board! I feel these kids are being discriminated against. That is MY opinion…you are welcome to yours.
Our county is open. Restaurants, churches, schools and athletics are all open. Dr. Smith claims he has no control over the athletics that have been taking place in our schools nor the crowds that come to support them. Fine. Let them be an example for the rest of our school programs. Our students have played in CONTACT sports without causing school to shut down due to spread of the pandemic. LARGE crowds have filled stadiums WITHOUT causing our county to shut back down. Our sports teams have traveled to competitions without disastrous results. It’s time. Let ALL our students play. Let them play their band instruments. Let them play their orchestra instruments. Let them sing, act, dance, perform and share every talent they have worked hard to cultivate and master, not just their work from this year but for some years of work. My daughter has played tennis for 4 years. She went from an ok player to the number 2 girls’ varsity tennis whose team won runner up for district. She has been playing violin for 8 years. She is a great violinist, first chair in the highest orchestra, concert master. Let her play. Let her play to a real audience. Limit the audience size, require masks, heck – I’ll even sign a waiver relieving you of any responsibility. Let her play, Dr. Tim Smith. Let them ALL play!!