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District staff outlines PIAA ruling allowing borough residents at faith-based schools to play public-school sports
Summary
District staff summarized a court order (Judge Braun, 09/15/2025) saying students who attend faith-based schools but live in the district may be eligible to play in public-school sports if they meet eligibility criteria; staff said the decision is retroactive and they will seek clarification on sports not offered locally.
Mister Nastasi briefed the board on a recent PIAA-related court order and its implications for students who attend faith-based schools but live in the borough. "So basically, what it's saying is if at least any faith based... they don't have a sport that, and we have that sport... those kids that live in the borough are eligible to play that sport in our school district," he said, adding the ruling was retroactive to Sept. 15. Nastasi said the district will contact families, help with physicals and acclimation, and seek clarification from the district representative, Sean Kelly, about rules for sports not offered locally.
Board members asked practical questions about whether students could travel to neighboring districts for sports that Bristol does not offer, such as ice hockey, and suggested staff follow up with the PIAA representative for implementation details. The item was presented as an informational update rather than an action item; no formal policy change or vote was recorded at this meeting.
