WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION WIAA Executive Board Minutes April 22, 2017 Inn at the Park, Spokane WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Eric McCurdy, President (Region A), Lori Wyborney, Vice President (District 8), Jim Piccolo for Harlan Kredit (District 1), Pat McCarthy (District 2), Tim Thomsen (District 3), Mick Hoffman (District 4), Rich Rouleau (District 5), Miles Caples (District 6), Greg Whitmore (District 7), Ken Lindgren (District 9), Wendy Malich (Region B) and Pam Veltri (Region C). HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Nick Reykdal (AWMLP), Dave Tikker (WSSAAA), Lori Oviatt (WSSDA) and Joe Keller (District Directors). WIAA STAFF Mike Colbrese, Executive Director; and Cindy Adsit, Andy Barnes, John Miller and Brian Smith, Assistant Executive Directors. WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD WORK SESSION On Saturday, April 22, 2017, the WIAA Executive Board held a work session regarding the out-of-state school s request to join the WIAA, WIAA staff responsibilities, the process for requesting a change in allocations, and diversity training. The following topics will be included in the June 4-5, 2017, meeting work session: allocations process, postseason access, and out-of-season rules. CALL TO ORDER Eric McCurdy convened the WIAA Executive Board meeting at 10 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017. Wendy Malich led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENSUS ISSUES Eric McCurdy presented the agenda with two additional items (the Columbia (Hunters) High School requests and the RPI committee recommendations); minutes from March 22-23, 2017, meeting; minutes from the April 11, 2017, conference call; and consensus items. Malich/Lindgren moved to approve the agenda with two additional items, the March 22-23, 2017, and April 11, 2017, minutes, and the consensus items. MOTION PASSED. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS CALENDAR AND CULMINATING EVENTS SUB-COMMITTEE Wendy Malich summarized the following topics: 1. The availability of spring sites for potentially moving to a later week in the future was presented for consideration but there was also discussion about whether any of the events could, or should, be moved to an earlier week. The WIAA staff continues to gather input on spring event formats in other states. Staff was directed to develop some scenarios of potential date changes for review during the June 4-5, 2017, meeting.
WIAA Executive Board Meeting April 22, 2017 WIAA Office Renton, WA Page 2 2. Proposed change in team definition for wrestling in WIAA handbook rule 22.1.7 from eight (8) participants required to filling eight (8) weight classes, which impacts wrestling allocations and wrestling regional alignments. This proposed change was seen as a benefit to larger programs but as a detriment to smaller programs. The discussion expanded to the potential that wrestling allocations should go to the WIAA districts rather than to the regionals through leagues. The discussion continued that there are barriers in the current system for increasing participation such as the amendment process, facility availability, how teams are counted (for allocation purposes), and tournament format. Since allocations seem to be a common thread, it was suggested to further discuss this topic during the August 4 retreat. HANDBOOK SUB-COMMITTEE Ken Lindgren summarized the following: 1. Dance/Drill rules and case book: Both cheer and dance/drill safety rules are covered in the NFHS Spirit Rule Book. The dance/drill coaches and judges have requested that they be authorized to develop a dance/drill case book, which will include situation rulings and interpretations, to supplement the NFHS spirit rule book. The WIAA staff is supportive of this request. 2. Criteria for approval for participation in All-State and All-American contests: The committee reviewed the timeline of decisions made by the WIAA Executive Board to waive specific rules in order to allow individuals and teams to compete in events held during the out-of-season time period. The committee suggested that at least a portion of the work session during the June 4-5, 2017, meeting be devoted to developing criteria and parameters that WIAA staff would use in reviewing future requests. As a related topic, the finance subcommittee is also looking at the potential to sponsor events beyond regular season and/or new state events that would appeal to schools to participate. Mike Colbrese added that the organizer of the Dick s National Tournament has contacted him regarding the potential involvement of Washington schools for a football bowl in December of 2017. 3. WIAA handbook rules 22.10.0 and 22.11.0 Agreement Review Committee and determining officials fees. The RTO committee will continue to review the appropriate rules and will develop an amendment for the 2018 Representative Assembly regarding current practices. FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE Pam Veltri provided updates on the following topics: 1. The year-to-date and final fall and winter tournament reports were presented for discussion and review. Collectively the non-basketball tournaments were down in attendance from last year (2016). The committee felt it was worthwhile to continue to study regional and state sites and dates to determine if they are appropriate, and to review revenues generated from television and other forms of broadcasting to determine if modifications to the current policies might be in order.
WIAA Executive Board Meeting April 22, 2017 WIAA Office Renton, WA Page 3 Lindgren/Malich moved to accept the year-to-date, and final fall and winter tournament reports. MOTION PASSED. 2. The 2017-18 WIAA budget was presented for second reading. Changes in many line items reflect actual revenues or expenses from 2016-17. McCarthy/Malich moved to approve on second reading the 2017-18 WIAA budget. MOTION PASSED. 3. L & I rates continue to go up, and the 2017-18 rate could potentially increase by 25 percent (%). The WIAA serves as a flow-through account for L & I fees paid by the schools for officials that work contests at the schools. In order for schools to better understand that process, the WIAA staff was directed to develop a summary sheet that explains that the WIAA serves as a flowthrough account as a service to the schools. Hoffman/Rouleau moved to increase the 2017-18 L & I rate by 25 percent (%). MOTION PASSED. 4. The special Finance Sub-Committee, chaired by Mick Hoffman, will continue to analyze the financial status of the Association, staff stabilization, and investigate innovative programs as potential revenue streams in the future. REQUESTS FOR ACTION TABLED REQUEST FROM BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL Mike Colbrese proposed that upon advice of legal counsel, the request from Bellevue High School remain tabled. REQUEST FROM AN OUT-OF-STATE SCHOOL TO JOIN THE WIAA Mike Colbrese presented the factors and proposed criteria to evaluate out-of-state schools interested in joining the WIAA. He reported that both Oregon and Idaho have been involved in the process and are working to adopt the same criteria for similar requests. Thomsen/Rouleau moved to approve on second reading the criteria for an out-of-state school to become a WIAA member school with the change to Item F (Attachment #1). MOTION PASSED. THIRD READING PROPOSED FEE INCREASE FOR OFFICIALS Tim Thomsen shared that the RTO committee, which covers a wide range of topics involving officials and officiating, has evolved into the Agreement Review Committee and is recommending the following fee increases for officials for the 2017-18 school year: $1 for middle schools, $1 for subvarsity, and $2 for high school varsity. The hope is that the increase will provide some incentive for initial and ongoing commitment by officials and that the RTO will continue. The initial request was proposed during the December meeting, which does not meet the timeline specified in WIAA handbook rule 21.10.0. Mike Colbrese clarified that the current language in 21.10.0 was developed jointly with the WIAA and WOA in order to allow schools ample time to prepare for fee increases during budget planning for the
WIAA Executive Board Meeting April 22, 2017 WIAA Office Renton, WA Page 4 subsequent year. Tim Thomsen stated that there is still ample time for the fee increases to be incorporated into next year s budgets. Malich/Thomsen moved to approve on third and final reading the 2017-18 proposed officials fee increases. MOTION PASSED. RPI SURVEY RESULTS Greg Whitmore summarized the results of the RPI survey as submitted by 221 WIAA member high schools (Attachment #2). While there is overriding support to implement the RPI in all team sports, there was no clear support for the implementation date. The RPI Committee is recommending: 1. Use 2017-18 as a study year for RPI in football, volleyball, soccer, softball and baseball. The RPI would be calculated, but would not be published. The actual tournament seeding would continue to be through the sports current draw/seeding method. 2. Staff and the RPI committee will work with MaxPreps to develop the RPI system/formula for each of the team sports for 2017-18. The formulas for each sport would most likely be different. MaxPreps has indicated that is possible to do. 3. Schools will be reminded of the importance to accurately input schedules and scores for all team sports. 4. Following the seasons, the RPI committee will study each sports listing and determine if the formula utilized during the study year was appropriate. 5. Recommendations regarding the formulas and implementation dates for each of the team sports would be presented to the WIAA Executive Board for final review and adoption beginning with the 2018-19 school year. There are concerns about implementing changes in football due to the recent restructuring of leagues in order to address competitive equity and there have been questions about how the tournament formats might change. The role of the RPI Committee is to study the RPI, not to review or recommend tournament format change. Whitmore/Rouleau moved to approve the recommendations of the RPI Committee. MOTION PASSED. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF SEASON CONTEST LIMITATION West Seattle High School Girls Basketball Pat McCarthy presented the proposed corrective measures to be assessed to West Seattle High School for playing 21 regular season games during the 2016-17 girls basketball season: that the coach retake the online basketball rules clinic, that the coach and athletic director work together in developing the 2017-18 schedule, that the 2017-18 schedule will be reviewed by himself, that the athletic director will take all online sports specific rules tests, that the basketball coach will be suspended for the first two (2) games of the 2017-18 season, and that the West Seattle High School girls basketball program will be on probation for one (1) calendar year. Rouleau/Malich moved to approve the proposed penalties. MOTION PASSED. PROSPECTIVE REGIONAL BASEBALL SITES Cindy Adsit presented the list of prospective sites for regional baseball on May 20, 2017 (Attachment #3.) Games will be assigned to the sites on Sunday, May 14, 2017, after the teams have qualified.
WIAA Executive Board Meeting April 22, 2017 WIAA Office Renton, WA Page 5 McCarthy/Malich moved to approve the proposed sites. MOTION PASSED. REQUEST FROM COLUMBIA (HUNTERS) REGARDING CLASSIFICATION FOR BASEBALL John Miller presented the request on behalf of Columbia (Hunters) High School and Inchelium High School regarding their combined baseball program which was submitted to the WIAA staff on April 20, 2017. Each of the schools is in the 1B classification, but the combined baseball program moved them into the 2B classification (for baseball only.) Inchelium High School had been sending four (4) players to Columbia (Hunters) High School. However, two (2) of those players have become academically ineligible, one (1) player quit for personal reasons, and the ferry between Inchelium and Gifford will be shut down for a month for maintenance, so the fourth player has no means to participate. Brian Myers, athletic director at Inchelium High School, requested that Columbia (Hunters) High School be allowed to return to the 1B classification for the remainder of the 2017 baseball season. Whitmore/McCarthy moved to approve the request. MOTION PASSED. REVIEW OF BOARD GOALS AND STRATEGIC PLAN Mike Colbrese distributed the draft of the pamphlet regarding the Healthy Culture and the Strategic Plan. The goals and plan requirements will be met by 2018, at which time the WIAA Executive Board will need to determine its subsequent course of action. He also shared the numbers for trends in participation for boys and girls in Washington state, as compared to the NFHS participation rates as submitted by the 51 state associations (which includes the District of Columbia). There was an issue with the WIAA software program in 2015-16, so the figures are not accurate for that year. The participation numbers listed compared 2012-13 through 2014-15. The comparisons show a decrease in participation since 2012-13. He was asked to bring the Washington participation figures in each of the specific sports for the next meeting for analysis, along with any additional data comparing participation rates with income level if possible. PLANNING STATE EVENT UPDATES Cindy Adsit shared that the Mariners offered to waive the $10,000 facility fee for the 2017 3A, 4A State Baseball Championships. Eric McCurdy added that the Mariners have funds available to assist schools in funding middle level school s baseball and softball programs. The spring tournament signup sheet will be emailed to the WIAA Executive Board members to sign up to present awards at the spring events. FALL WORKSHOP DATES AND TOPICS Brian Smith presented the fall workshop dates confirmed by the WIAA District Directors which are posted on the WIAA website and requested suggested topics for the workshops be submitted to the staff. He added that, of the more than 400 middle level member schools, only 83 middle level athletic directors completed the middle level workshop. AUGUST 4, 2017 RETREAT Eric McCurdy reported that there has been preliminary discussion about asking Al Falkner and Erin Jones to return again this year. The retreat will be for the WIAA Executive Board members only.
WIAA Executive Board Meeting April 22, 2017 WIAA Office Renton, WA Page 6 AFFILIATE GROUP REPORTS Eric Anderson (AWSP) shared that the principals have not met since the March 18-19, 2017, meeting. Lori Oviatt (WSSDA) reported that the WSSDA IAC committee reviewed the amendments and their position is posted on the WIAA website. Three strategies were developed to improve the school board members understanding of the WIAA that all will review the WIAA 101 PowerPoint, that the staff will prepare a 15-minute video on the WIAA Mission and Core Principals and Goals, and that the video would be viewed by all school board members. Dave Tikker (WSSAAA) appreciated the WIAA Executive Board meeting being held as the kickoff to the WSSAAA conference. He reported record attendance for the conference, and attributed that increase to the mentorship program which is supported in many ways by the WIAA Executive Board. Nick Reykdahl (AWMLP) (Middle Level Schools) shared that the middle level school principals have not met since the March 18-19, 2017, meeting. Tim Thomsen added that Nick Reykdahl has offered to join the RTO committee to add a middle level school s perspective regarding officiating overall. Joe Keller (District Directors) reported that the district directors will meet during the 2017 WSSAAA Conference where they will discuss the governance committee and the potential to utilize the RPI for league and/or district qualifying events. LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES Mike Colbrese shared that Cindy Adsit and some of the WIAA Executive Board members will assist the WIAA legal counsel through the upcoming litigation filed by individuals that honor the Saturday Sabbath. He added that some changes were amended out of the law regarding charter school students that bring the law in line with the WIAA handbook rules. NFHS Mike Colbrese shared that the 2017 NFHS summer meeting will be held in Providence, Rhode Island. FEATURES AND ARTICLES A series of articles and features of interest were provided to the WIAA Board. REVIEW OF APRIL BOARD MEETING ACTION Andy Barnes reviewed action taken by the WIAA Executive Board during this April 22, 2017, meeting. MEETING CONCLUSION Lindgren/Malich moved to adjourn at 1:10 PM on Saturday, April 22, 2017. MOTION PASSED. Submitted by: Next Meeting: June 4-5, 2017 Eric McCurdy, WIAA Board President Mike Colbrese, WIAA Executive Director Cindy Adsit, Recorder