On the same day Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation that would allow school districts across the state to set their own attendance limitations at athletic events, Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors authorized its administration to ignore the governor’s guidelines.

By a 5-2 vote, with two directors abstaining, the board issuing two tickets to each Lehighton student participating in a sports event, even if it takes attendance past the 25-person mark indoors or 250-person mark outdoors.

The change is biggest for varsity football games and volleyball matches, both of which had no spectators under Lehighton’s former policy.

“I’m in support of parents being able to attend these games,” director Nathan Foeller said in making the motion to allow two tickets per participant no matter the sport. “I don’t feel comfortable with opening the doors for everyone because I can’t see a situation where that wouldn’t later be viewed as irresponsible.”

Monday’s vote allows Lehighton to go over the governor’s cap on attendance, but it will still require families to have social distance from one another and wear masks when moving about the venue.

For varsity football, band members and cheerleaders would also be able to get two tickets per person to a home game.

Lehighton’s attorney, Eric Filer, said the move wouldn’t come without risk.

“The potential for lawsuits is still out there,” he told the board during discussion on the item. “But I know it’s the coal region and it’s football season so I won’t go any further than that.”

Wayne Wentz, Stephen Holland, Rita Spinelli, Foeller and Richard Beltz voted in favor of the two tickets per participant policy regardless of attendance numbers.

Wentz said “given the size of Lehighton’s athletic stadium, people could be easily separated.”

Larry Stern and Gail Maholick voted no, while David Bradley and Joy Beers abstained.

Earlier in the meeting, Bradley called for letting everyone in to watch the games, provided their temperatures were taken upon entry and they were not symptomatic.

“Let the people decide whether they want to attend or not,” Bradley said. “They are individuals within America. If they get there and feel there are too many people or they are uncomfortable, they can leave. That is their right.”

When it comes to letting parents into games, Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said he sees both sides.

“The superintendent in me looks to guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and our insurance carrier, while as a parent, I do think it’s important to find a way to open up these events to at least the parents of the student athletes, band and cheerleaders,” Cleaver said. The state House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow districts to make their own decision on attendance as Lehighton did on Monday. Wolf, however, vetoed the bill, calling it entirely unnecessary.

“School districts, you know, they’re going to do what they do, but there’s a virus out there and that virus really likes it when you bring a lot of people together. That’s what we know. And so, you ignore that at your peril. Yeah, you could ignore reality, but that reality really is that the virus is out to get us,” Wolf said.