MINUTES EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING April 19, 2021

In accordance with Article 6, Section 3, Paragraph 1 of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, Inc. (AIA) Constitution, a regular meeting of the Executive Board was held on Monday, April 19, 2021 at 7007 N 18th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020 and via teleconference.

President Toni Corona called the meeting to order at 8:30 am.

Members in Attendance: William Duarte, 1A Conference (Superior High School) Ricky Greer, 2A Conference (Hopi High School) Toni Corona, CAA, 3A Conference (Safford High School) Jeannine Brandel, 4A Conference (Flagstaff High School) Jim Dean, 5A Conference (Dysart Unified School District) Zack Munoz, Ed.D, 6A Conference (Phoenix Union High School District) Tim Carter, Cognia (Yavapai County School Superintendent) Renee Regoli, Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (Queen Creek High School) Camille Casteel, Ed.D, Arizona School Administrators (Chandler Unified School District)* Jim Love, Arizona School Boards Association (Flowing Wells Unified School District) David Hines, AIA Executive Director

AIA Staff Present: Mark Mignella, Legal Counsel Joe Paddock, Assistant Executive Director Tayler Coady, Executive Assistant Herman House, Human Resources Brian Gessner, State Commissioner of Officials Denise Doser, Director of Finance Brian Bolitho, Director of Business Development Dean Visser, Sports Administrator Dan Nero, Tournament Coordinator David Shapiro, Tournament Coordinator Tyler Cerimeli, Tournament Coordinator Ashley Gronewold, Tournament Coordinator* Seth Polansky, Sports Information Coordinator* Brandy Young, Tournament Processing and Operations Coordinator*

Guests: Don Kile Shay Pausa* David Huffine* Corey Newland* Jay Campos* Shawn Rustad*

*indicates attendance via Zoom

Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

LEGAL COUNSEL REPORT On a motion duly made, seconded and carried, President Corona, in accordance with Article 6, Section 3, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2 of the AIA Constitution, called for the following Executive Sessions to receive report from legal counsel:

 8:30am – 10:34am  12:07pm – 2:45pm

COMMITTEE MEMBER NOMINATIONS – EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS (3A, 6A) In accordance with Article 6, Section 4, Paragraph 1 of the AIA Constitution, the Executive Board selected the following to serve as members for the 2021-2024 term:

3A Toni Corona – Assistant Principal / Athletic Director, Safford High School

6A Jennifer Burks – Assistant Principal / Athletic Director, Perry High School

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the Executive Board approved the following consent agenda items: Approval of Minutes  March 15, 2021

AIA Lifetime Passes 1. Amelia Holtsoi Window Rock 35 years 2. Connie Weaver Sabino 27 years 3. David Baker Flowing Wells 31 years

Request for AIA Sanction/Intrastate and Interstate Activities – 2020-21 Master Calendar In accordance with Article 10, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, the Executive Board approved the sanction requests for the intrastate and interstate activities reflected in the 2020-2021 Master Calendar. The master calendar is posted online at http://www.aiaonline.org/calendar/?id=5.

The Master Calendar, which is prepared by the AIA for its member schools, reflects activities (events) that have been sanctioned by the AIA Executive Board. It is the responsibility of each member school to limit its participation in these sanctioned activities to the maximum number of contests set forth in the AIA Bylaws.

Conference/Region Meeting Minutes  Southern Arizona AD Meeting Minutes – March 23, 2021  4A Conference Committee Meeting Minutes – March 30, 2021  5A Conference Committee Meeting Minutes – April 7, 2021

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Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

FINANCIAL REPORT In accordance with Article 6, Section 5, Paragraph 15 of the AIA Bylaws, the Executive Board approved the following financial report

 Financial Report for March 2021

MEMBERSHIP COMMENTS None

CANCELLATION REQUESTS – CONTEST AND/OR PROGRAMS In accordance with Article 11, Section 4, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 1 of the AIA Bylaws, the Executive Board approved the following cancellation request for a varsity, junior varsity, freshman program(s) that could have a bearing on regional or state playoffs:

SCHOOL REQUESTING: HEREBY CONSENT: 1. Apache Junction VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 2. Arete Prep VAR Beach Volleyball Program 3. Baboquivari All Spring Sports 4. Bisbee VAR Boys/Girls Tennis Program / VAR Golf Program 5. Buckeye Union VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 6. Camelback VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 7. Carl Hayden VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 8. Catalina VAR Baseball / Softball Programs 9. Chinle All Spring Sports 10. Cholla VAR Boys’ Volleyball / Girls Tennis Programs 11. Desert Christian VAR Girls’ Tennis Program 12. Fountain Hills VAR Boys’ Volleyball Program 13. Gilbert Classical VAR Softball Program 14. Hopi All Spring Sports 15. Leading Edge VAR Softball Program 16. Lincoln Prep VAR Golf Program 17. Lourdes Catholic VAR Boys/Girls’ Tennis Program 18. North VAR Boys’ Volleyball Program 19. Northland Prep VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 20. Palo Verde VAR Boys’ Volleyball / Baseball Program 21. Pueblo VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 22. Rock Point All Spring Sports 23. San Carlos All Spring Sports 24. San Miguel VAR Softball Program 25. San Simon VAR Softball Program 26. Santa Rita VAR Softball Program 27. Sedona Red Rock VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 28. Sequoia Charter VAR Baseball / Softball Programs 29. South Mountain VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 30. St. Mary’s VAR Boys’ Tennis Program 31. St. Michael VAR Baseball Program 32. Valley Sanders All Spring Sports 33. Veritas Prep VAR Softball Program 34. Youngker VAR Boys’ Volleyball Program

113 Lower Level Program Cancellations

CONTEST(S) Cancelled: 187 total contests cancelled (VAR/JV/FR) Basketball – 4 Wrestling – 2 Tennis – 45 Beach Volleyball - 1 Track/Field – 19 Baseball – 53 Softball – 53 Boys Volleyball – 8 Golf – 2 Page 3 of 8

Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

The Annual AIA Membership Survey had 176 responses with 76% of those being submitted by Athletic Directors and 15 Superintendents. The results indicated an overall rating of 94% membership satisfaction of the AIA. All information submitted is appreciated and helps the AIA staff moving forward to better support our membership.

The Flagstaff High School Principal submitted a letter to the Executive Board regarding an incident that occurred in 1963 that resulted in a student athlete being suspended the remainder of the season. This incident was brought up during Black History Month and the Flagstaff High School administration and district are requesting the suspension be rescinded.

Kris Kurtenbach visited with AIA staff last Monday. Ms. Kurtenbach, along with John Fees, from the Community Advisory Board, are putting together a proposal with AIA. This proposal is to promote students to get back in school and participation in athletics and activities.

The InsideOut Initiative had participation from 56 AIA member schools this year. This program is funded by the Arizona Cardinals and is no cost to schools. There will be a meeting in person at the State Farm Stadium on August 25, 2021. An invitation with information on how to register will go out in the next coming weeks.

As a reminder, all spring sports modifications will remain in place. These modifications are a requirement and all schools, students, coaches, officials and spectators must follow them.

A concern was brought to the attention of the Tournament Coordinators and AIA Staff regarding visitors providing three (3) baseball. All schools will continue to be required to provide three (3) game baseballs at each game.

NEW SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP – MEMBERSHIP BALLOT CONDUCTED In accordance with Article 2, Section 2 of the AIA Constitution, the Executive Board voted to ballot the AIA member schools for the following membership application:

 Highland Prep

Based on the information gathered from balloting the membership the above school has been approved for membership for the 2021-2022 school year. On a motion made, seconded and carried the Executive Board accepted the information gathered from balloting of the AIA member schools.

NEW SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP – SITE VISIT CONDUCTED On a motion made, seconded and carried the Executive Board approved the membership application for the following school beginning the 2021-2022 school year and requested the membership be balloted:

 American Leadership Academy – West Foothills

NEW SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP Due to the requested information not being provided, on a motion made, seconded and carried the Executive Board is taking no further action with the following membership application and has suggested the school reapply next year for the 2022-2023 school year.

 Centennial Academy

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Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

AMENDMENT REQUEST – ARTICLE 39 – SPIRITLINE – POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

39.10 COACHES / COACHING 39.10.7 Requirements: Cheer:  NFHS Rules Course (held annually at the Coaches Conference)  AIA Information Course (held annually at the Coaches Conference)  NFHS Cheer Rules Exam (taken and passed annually)  AACCA Certifications (taken every 4 years) Dance:  NFHS Rules Course (held annually at the Coaches Conference)  AIA Information Course (held annually at the Coaches Conference)  NFHS Dance Rules Exam (taken and passed annually)

Rationale: We want to remove the USA Cheer Safety Certification (formerly AACCA) altogether. USA Cheer and NFHS have now aligned their rules so the certification is redundant. We are choosing to keep NFHS rather than USA Cheer because NFHS is taken annually and USA Cheer is taken every 4 years. Rules are changing every year so we want to keep the annual testing and certification.

On a motion made, seconded and carried the Executive Board approved the above amendment to the Spiritline policies and procedures.

AMENDMENT REQUEST – ARTICLE 15 – STUDENT ELIGIBILITY RULES The 6A Conference committee is proposing the following amendment to Article 15.

15.10 TRANSFER RULE – After enrolling and attending one or more classes, a student changing enrollment from one school (sending school) to another school (receiving school) shall be considered a transferring student. For information and record keeping purposes, the receiving and sending school shall reasonably cooperate and complete Form 550.

15.10.5 When Sport or Nonathletic Activity Is Dropped by an AIA Member School – When a sport or nonathletic activity is dropped by a governing board, a student may transfer to a school that offers that sport or nonathletic activity and shall be eligible only in the sport or nonathletic activity that has been dropped at the school from which the student transferred. Said eligibility will be granted when the student enrolls in one of the following schools:

15.10.5.3 In the event the district does not offer the sport or nonathletic activity in any of its schools, the student may transfer to the public high school of another district closest to the domicile of the parents.

15.10.5.3.1 In the event a district did not offer AIA Competition in a sport or nonathletic activity during the 2020-2021 school year, a student who transferred to the public high school of another district closest to the domicile of the parents in order to participate in AIA competition, may transfer back to their original (home) school for the 2021-2022 school year and have full eligibility in all sports if all other transfer rule requirements are met. On a motion made, seconded and carried the Executive Board tabled the above request to the May 17, 2021 meeting requesting clarification on the following points from the 6A Conference:

 Definition of AIA Competition  To which member schools would this rule apply?  Will this include all sports the student participates in or just the sport in which they transferred due to the sending school not offering that sport?

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Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

SCHOOL VIOLATIONS

FLOWING WELLS HIGH SCHOOL – Flowing Wells Unified School District Rule: Article 15. Student Eligibility Rules, Section 7 Physical Examination Rule (15.7.1) Reported Violation: New varsity head softball coach allowed four players to tryout on Day 1 without being fully cleared through the athletic office. Players did not have current paperwork on file. Schools Corrective Action: Review the procedures put in place by our athletic office with the entire coaching staff will issues a hard copy of the cleared athletes every day for the first week. The Athletic Department has several safeguards in place for this not to happen. It was a fault of the head coach to not following through with her responsibilities. Head coach has been replaced. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the Flowing Wells High School Softball Program on Advisement for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22.

Jim Love abstained.

MARANA HIGH SCHOOL – Marana Unified School District Rule: Article 15. Student Eligibility Rules, Section 7 Physical Examination Rule (15.7.1) Reported Violation: We experience significant multiple software/technology errors in our player clearance software. This caused significant delay in processing and re-verifying all spring season student documents. Software error caused already cleared players to reset to “not complete” and caused other players to show “complete” when they were not. After re-verifying all of our spring season documents our investigation found 6 players who practiced before they were verified to have “a physical on file” per bylaw 15.7.1 and 15.2.3. Schools Corrective Action: Moving forward we will implement a written back-up “clear for play” checklist/signature document from our athletics department for each student to present to coaches prior to their being able to participate. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the Marana High School Activities Program on Warning for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22.

CORTEZ HIGH SCHOOL – Glendale Union High School District Rule: Article 14. General Provisions, Section 4 Nonschool Participation (14.4.1) Reported Violation: One of our athletes participated in our boys’ soccer game on 3/9/21 vs Flagstaff High School in the first round of the state playoff after admitting to playing in a club soccer game on 3/6/21.

Schools Corrective Action: Contests forfeited. We will continue to go over the club sport rule with our athletes. Continue to have them sign contracts about the rule. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the Cortez High School Boys’ Soccer Program on Advisement for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22. Page 6 of 8

Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

SCHOOL VIOLATIONS – Cont’d

CASTEEL HIGH SCHOOL – Chandler Unified School District Rule: Article 15. Student Eligibility Rules, Section 12 Recruitment Rule (15.12.4.14) Reported Violation: During a club tryout, our women’s basketball coach was identified as the Executive Director of the club. He had no connection with the athletes at the point in questions – he coordinated travel, venues and tournaments and was going to be instrumental in a potential merger with a prominent west coach club. He was however in violation of the bylaw due to his title. Schools Corrective Action: Contest forfeited. We will be reviewing transfer bylaws with all coaches on our campus. We will also be communicating with all coaches that are connected in any way to clubs. Refresh and review it in real life situations. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the Casteel High School Girls’ Basketball Program on Advisement for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22.

Camille Casteel had left meeting prior to discussion.

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY – GILBERT NORTH – American Leadership Academy Rule: Article 15. Student Eligibility Rules, Section 12 Recruitment Rule (15.12.4.14) Reported Violation: Boys swim coach in an effort to build his out of season club program sent out a message on social media to parents. Schools Corrective Action: We have addressed this issues with the coach and reviewed article 15 with him so he clearly understands the bylaw. We have also reminded him that while he is coaching out of season swim/club, that needs to be very mindful of the bylaws and prior contact. I asked him not to use his title as ALA swim coach when promoting his club and EVO swim. We have also revisited article 15 with all of our coaches in our monthly coaches meeting held the last Friday of every month. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the American Leadership Academy – Gilbert North Boys’ Swim Program on Advisement for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22.

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Executive Board Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021

SCHOOL VIOLATIONS – Cont’d

SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR HIGH SCHOOL – Deer Valley Unified School District Rule: Article 15. Student Eligibility Rules, Section 12 Recruitment Rule (15.12.4.14) Reported Violation: Transfer student(s) participate on a club team owned by one of the boys’ volleyball coaches at the receiving school. The cause: 1) due to COVID-19, these students did not get to play for the 2019-2020 season. Those cancelled games should be considered as part of the time in which these students do not get to play. 2) After AIA ruled students would be 100% eligible prior to transferring on February 8, it was assumed that these students would also not be given penalty. Schools Corrective Action: Contests forfeited. Provide training on the definition of prior contact and how it relates to eligibility. Executive Board Action: Executive Board, in accordance with Article 16, Section 1 of the AIA Bylaws, placed the Sandra Day O’Connor High School Boys’ Volleyball Program on Advisement for one year 4/19/21-4/19/22.

2021-2022 BUDGET PROPOSAL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATION

FUTURE DATES April 12 – April 23, 2021 Athletic Director Summit – Virtual April 26, 2021 Student Leadership Summit – Virtual May 17, 2021 AIA Executive Board Meeting May 22, 2021 AIA Champions Gala – Virtual May 31, 2021 Holiday – AIA Office Closed June 28-July 2, 2021 Summer Break – AIA Office Closed

There being no further business, and on a motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 2:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted, David Hines, Executive Director

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