WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The news wasn’t unexpected, but that didn’t make it any easier for Bob Johnson to deliver or for Jeff Moreno to absorb.

The Vermont Principals Association joined other state athletic groups from around the country by canceling its spring high school sports season on Thursday.

The decision came in a news release from the Montpelier-based organization minutes after a remote meeting of its Activities Standards Committee.

In the release, the VPA said the state’s ongoing stay-at-home order, which goes through at least May 15, and the uncertainty of whether schools will reopen for in-person instruction anytime soon led to the cancellation.

“The fact that we’re still doing remote learning in schools is the biggest issue,” Johnson said in a phone interview. “By having that out there, sports teams can’t come in, can’t use their facilities, can’t have a season. We’ve been waiting to see if there would be any change in that — and it’s changing, slowly but surely — but not enough.”

Multiple media reports list at least 40 states as having canceled spring high school sports. The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association called off its spring campaign two weeks ago.

The VPA announced its first suspension of play for the spring season March 16, putting off the start of practices until April 6. That was bumped back to April 15 upon Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s first stay-at-home executive order and further pushed to Thursday as the VPA took a wait-and-see approach.

Moreno, the Hartford High School assistant principal and athletic director, expected the news.

“It’s heartbreaking, really, but a planned heartbreak,” he said. “Seeing the words didn’t make the sting go away any less, didn’t make the pain any less. I’m actually thankful for the VPA doing it the way they did. Some didn’t appreciate them waiting this long, but it gave us the opportunity to meet as a whole coaching staff, meet as an AD around the athletes, meet with representatives of different teams student-wise. It’s just been useful and helpful to approach this in a measured way.”

Further adding to the uncertainty, Johnson noted, was the fact the VPA has few options for where it can host spring state championships. Two sites, the University of Vermont (baseball, lacrosse) and Castleton University (softball), are closed for classes, meaning athletic facilities are also unavailable for use.

The decision at least gives Vermont schools an early start on fall preparations, Moreno said.

“It will force us to start thinking a number of weeks out about what a fall season could look like, what school could look like, with advice from the medical professionals and scientists,” he added.

The VPA was lobbied for a decision either way but not heavily so, Johnson said.

“It’s disappointing,” he pointed out. “But we had no choice.”

Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.