THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 26, 2020 Page 15 Mystic Valley Regional Charter School fi rst in Mass. to cancel football season First school in state to punt away season, despite opener still three months away By Steve Freker A Malden school has become the first in Massachusetts to punt away its football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were the very fi rst charter school to put down roots in the greater Boston community, over 20 years ago, when the doors swung open on Laurel Street at the former Maplewood Elementary School. Since then the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School has had plenty of other fi rsts. The latest one came in midMarch when Mystic Valley became the first school in the state to announce a cancellation of classes due to the coronavirus. That announcement was made way back on March 5, a full week before a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), and 11 days ahead of Governor Baker's order closing all schools in Mass. until at least early April. First school in state to cancel football This week it happened again when it was learned that the Mystic Valley administration canceled the upcoming football season, the fi rst of over 300 high school teams in all of Massachusetts to do so, citing concerns over COVID-19. According to news reports published online, a statement released by Mystic Valley Superintendent Alexander Dan cited a survey conducted this spring "showed only 16 parents of players who participated in the school’s football program last year felt comfortable making a commitment to varsity football for the fall season." This led to the administration’s decision to cancel the season and work toward creating a non-contact alternative for Mystic Valley athletes, according to the statement. According to reports, the school distributed a letter to studentathletes via social media anTIME OUT: Mystic Valley football coach Danny Kelly and last year's Eagle football captains. Word was out this week that Mystic Valley decided to cancel this fall's football season. (Courtesy Photo) nouncing the decision to cut football for 2020, despite the season-opening kickoff being about three months away. Move is made before any MIAA decisions Also, the move was made in advance of any guidance for fall sports emanating from the overseer of high school athletics, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). High school athletic directors and principals have been anxiously awaiting news from the MIAA regarding football and fall sports in general, before deciding on how to proceed. No other school in Massachusetts had announced any decisions on fall sports to date, Mystic Valley being the fi rst. Behind the scenes, a number of athletic directors and fall coaches have speculated about the potential risks of fall sports like football and soccer and the close contact involved with both, in practices and games. Cross country teams and their close group running has also been cited as a potential risk, along with girls fi eld hockey. Another fall sport is girls’ volleyball, played in close quarters and indoors. Mystic Valley second-year head coach Danny Kelly was he was surprised and disheartened by the decision to cancel the season this early, in June. In an online report, the Eagles coach said he found out Saturday, but had to keep it to himself until school families were informed. Season taken away three months in advance “It’s one thing if the MIAA said there was no season, we’d be OK with that. But to have this taken away from them when the season is still three months away was tough," Coach Kelly told a Boston newspaper in an online report. “We were just getting ready to start our off - season conditioning program. Then I have to tell them that their season was over, it was taken away from them. It was not an easy thing to do, especially for the seniors." If Mystic Valley's decision proves to be a harbinger of what is to come and fall sports becomes a casualty of the coronavirus, it would become a painful, one-two punch to high school sports, following the cancellation of spring sports season, announced in late April. T he SBA, working with the Department of the Treasury, announced the release of new Form 3508EZ for certain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers in order to apply for forgiveness of the PPP loan. This Form is much simpler than the initial forgiveness loan application. This will not only streamline the process for the PPP borrowers, but also for the lenders that served as the intermediary between the SBA and the borrower. The lender is the one that has to actually approve the forgiveness loan application. In order to be eligible to complete Form 3508EZ, borrowers must meet the following criteria: The borrower is selfemployed and has no employees; or Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25% and did not reduce the number of hours of their employees; or Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19 and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more Paycheck Protection Program EZ Forgiveness Form than 25%. On page one of the instructions to Form 3508EZ you will fi nd a checklist with 3 checkboxes. If you can check off at least one of those 3 checkboxes, you will be able to complete Form 3508EZ, which is only a two-page form. On page two of Form 3508EZ, the borrower must check off certain representations and certifi cations. The first page of the application has the fo r g iveness amount calculation: Line 1: list the gross payroll for the covered period Line 2: list business mortgage payments made during the covered period Line 3: list business rent paid during the covered period Line 4: list business utility payments made during the covered period Line 5: add the amounts on lines 1 through 4 Line 6: insert the amount of the PPP loan Line 7: divide line 1 by 60 percent (this is the payroll paid out requirement) Line 8: the forgiveness amount. The lesser of lines 5,6 or 7 The covered period is either the 8 - week period following the date your loan was funded, if you so elect, or the new 24week period following the date your loan was funded. Many businesses will need to take advantage of the new 24- week period in order to meet the 60% of gross payroll test. This new form was welcomed relief to borrowers and lenders of the PPP. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certifi ed Public Accountant, registered investment advisor, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. Follow us on Twitter advocatenewspaperma
16 Publizr Home