Senate Advances Bill That Sunsets And Abolishes FHSAA

April 23, 2013

Proponents of the Florida High School Athletic Association are on their defensive heels as those trying to revamp how high school sports are managed in Florida are driving with the ball as the clock runs down.

The Senate Education Committee voted 5-2 on Monday in favor of a measure (SB 1164) that would overhaul the FHSAA and eventually replace it with something else yet to be designed. The Senate bill was amended Monday to match the House version of the legislation, improving chances for passage.

The amended bill places new restrictions on investigations, alters the makeup of the FHSAA board of directors by including charter school, home school and non-public school members and abolishes the organization in July 2017.

Backers of the change say the reorganization is needed, claiming the FHSAA has an arbitrary authority and that it has gone too far in investigating student eligibility.

Bill sponsor Sen. Kelli Stargel addressed criticism that the bill, in reducing oversight, invites mischief.

“This bill does not allow free agency, does not allow recruiting, it doesn’t not legislate cheating,” said Stargel, R-Lakeland.

FHSAA supporters, including many coaches, school district officials and private school administrators, claim the changes will create “chaos” as some schools become sports magnets. They say it will invite frequent transfers, and force administrators and teachers to continually readjust academic plans for students who jump campus to campus.

The committee support was the first step in the Senate for the bill.

The Senate proposal has one more committee stop and Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, said Monday he expects his Rules Committee will have time to meet again.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to discuss its proposal on Tuesday.

The House version, rushed through three committee appearances with no opposition, has backing from Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, the chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Backers of the FHSAA say the proposal will also make it more difficult for small schools to compete in state athletic tournaments as more reliance is put on each of the 67 school districts to self-regulate their athletic programs.

“When we put a team on the field we know the other team has followed the same rules and regulations,” said Alachua County Superintendent Dan Boyd. “We don’t’ want that to change.”

Critics also say lawmakers are setting a dangerous precedent by delving into the daily operations of a non-profit organization.

“How long is it before you decide you don’t like the way other entities are operating?” asked Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the Florida Education Association.

Stargel argued that the Legislature isn’t overstepping its authority.

“They are the monopoly,” Stargel said. “We designate them as the organization that oversees our high school athletics, many of our public school funds go to the organization, so therefore I believe we have a role.”

She added that the FHSAA could continue as the overseer of state high school athletics after the sunset date if it agrees to abide by the directives of the Legislature.

“I don’t want to take over high school athletics, that’s not our role, but I want them to be accountable to the will of the Legislature and the will of the people,” she said.

Pictured top: The coin toss before the FHSAA District 1A Football Championship game last December in Orlando between Northview and Trenton. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Senate Advances Bill That Sunsets And Abolishes FHSAA”

  1. No Excuses on April 24th, 2013 3:02 pm

    I’ve seen both sides of the isle. I taught for many years at a county high school and we had good coaches/teachers and poor coaches/teachers. One example that really stands out is when a star athelete chose to ditch his three vocational classes for an entire semester so he didn’t get “dirty”. His coach (who will remain un-named here) did his best to get credit for his athelete for those three classes, but he still failed first semester and had to sit the rest of baskeball season out on the bench. Tough lesson, but he did his work second semester! The coach should have been ashamed of himself though.

  2. Patsy Green on April 24th, 2013 8:21 am

    Why should classes taught by coaches not count? I taught for 30 years. Some of the best teachers I know are also coaches.

  3. Dodger fan on April 23rd, 2013 10:01 pm

    What a power grab.

  4. eeyore on April 23rd, 2013 12:10 pm

    …its about time for an overhaul of this organization. if the government is transparent so should these organizations. i could care less about recruiting, free agency, home/charter/non-public schools…i am more concerned about eligibility and cheating. its a shame that students are allowed to participate in sports when they do not even have a passing grade…or that classes taught by “coaches” should not be factored in the eligibility…personally, and this may not sound fair, but student-athletes should be held to a high standard and have to have at least a “b” or 3.0 average, no disciplinary actions on them or pending, and definately no criminal record to be able to participate. school sports is not a right…it should be something that must be earned.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports