WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION 435 Main Avenue South, Renton, WA 98057 Phone 425-687-8585 – Fax 425-687-9476 Internet Address: www.wiaa.com WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MINUTES December 3-4, 2006, WIAA Office, Renton, Washington BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: President Ken Axelson (District 1), Vice President Al Falkner (District 8), Craig Olson (District 2), Chris Bigelow (Region A), Ed Ploof (District 3), Wendy Malich (Region B), Rich Rouleau (District 5), Jim Evans (District 6), Joe Feist (District 7), Ken Lindgren (District 9), George Juarez (Region C), Michele Webb (At Large). Absent: Henry Karnofski (District 4) HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS: Cherie Carroll (AWMLP), Van Cummings (AWSP), Ross Hjelseth (WFIS), Ed Laulainen (WSCA), Dave Lutes (WSSAAA), Todd Stordahl (WOA) and Debbie Winskill (WSDDA) DISTRICT DIRECTOR: Bob Kirk, District 9 Director WIAA STAFF: Executive Director Mike Colbrese; Assistant Executive Directors Andy Barnes, Teresa Fisher, Cindy Hettinger and Jim Meyerhoff; Legal Counsel John Olson; Director of Finance and Operations Leah Francis; Director of Marketing and Media Relations Darin Hanson; Assistant Events Coordinator Chauntelle Johnson; and Administrative Assistant Jeananne Tescar-Burcham The WIAA Executive Board meeting was preceded by a work session Sunday morning. October Conference Call Members of the Board discussed the October conference call and the need to create a procedure for issues that arise between scheduled executive board meetings. Members expressed concerns about conference calls, especially when testimony from individuals is involved. Members of the Board also discussed the necessity for recusal in some cases and for what circumstances it would be appropriate for members to recuse themselves. While addressing this issue members shared the differences from district-to-district regarding the position of a voting member on their district board Members of the Board directed staff to develop, a policy regarding the criteria for recusal. Mr. Colbrese shared that Mr. Barnes has been assigned the responsibility to review the district constitutions for the purpose of developing standard operating procedures. S:\EXECBD\MINUTES\2006-07\Minutes\06 December Minutes.doc 4/16/2010 WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES December 3-4, 2006 WIAA Office, Renton, Washington Page 2 Open Gym The Board and staff reviewed WIAA Rule 17.6.11. Ms. Hettinger provided the current interpretation of the rule. Board members agreed with all interpretations including that a coach may play and/or run with his/her athletes but may not coach. Call to Order WIAA Executive Board President Axelson opened the Executive Board meeting at 10 a.m., on Sunday, December 3, 2006. Mr. Axelson welcomed members of the Board and thanked them for attending. Vice President Falkner led the Pledge of Allegiance. OLSON/MALICH moved to approve the agenda, the minutes of the September 24-25, 2006, Executive Board meeting, the minutes of the conference call and consensus issues. MOTION PASSED Members agreed that in the future, consensus issues will be sent electronically. A copy of the minutes will also be included in the board’s packet. Audience – 6 th Grade Participation at Middle Federal Way Middle Schools Greg Flynn, Athletic Liaison, Federal Way School District Mr. Flynn presented the Federal Way School District’s request for an experiment allowing sixth grade student participation on all interscholastic middle school sport teams except football. He shared that in the opinion of the district that a sixth grade waiver will encourage more students and parents to become involved in school activities at the entry level. Mr. Flynn stated that it is not the intent of the district to develop a third squad but to allow sixth grade students to become part of the existing seventh and eighth grade squads. He also stated that the Federal Way middle schools are in a league unto itself with populations of approximately 400 students per middle school. Mr. Flynn stated that upon the end of the experiment, if successful, the Federal Way schools will submit an amendment to the 2008 Representative Assembly. Members of the Board asked numerous questions of Mr. Flynn which included the number of students turning out at the middle schools for the seventh and eighth grade squads and the amount that is charged as a participation fee. Board members asked if Mr. Flynn felt this proposal stressed athletics over academics. Mr. Flynn reported that the district’s intent is to add to the total academic environment by encouraging students and their parents to become involved earlier. He reported to the Board that the Federal Way School District has a grade average requirement of C minus for athletic participation. He also added that the schools plan is to continue to offer an intramural sports program. FALKNER/BIGELOW moved to approve the Federal Way School District’s request for an experiment to provide athletic opportunities for sixth grade students at the Federal Way School District middle schools beginning with the 2007-08 school year. This experiment is granted based on the rationale that the league in which Federal Way middle schools participate is made up of only Federal Way middle schools and these S:\EXECBD\MINUTES\2006-07\Minutes\06 December Minutes.doc WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES December 3-4, 2006 WIAA Office, Renton, Washington Page 3 sixth grade students shall be filling spots available on seventh and eighth grade teams. MOTION PASSED Affiliate Group Reports State Principals Association (AWSP) Mr. Cummings reported Governor Christine Gregoire and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Terry Bergeson have proposed to the legislature the option of allowing students to graduate without passing the math WASL for the graduating classes of 2008, 2009 and 2010. Mr. Cummings shared that the proposal includes that students who have not passed the high school WASL continue to take rigorous math classes until they graduate or pass the test. Taking the test or an approved alternative would be required annually. Mr. Cummings also shared that there is an on going search for texts to coincide with the WASL testing criteria but there is the concern that with the adoption of such texts school districts would no longer have control of curriculum. Mr. Cummings announced that he will be retiring as the principal of Clarkston High School and has accepted a community college position. He explained that he has visited with AWSP about a new representative. State Principals Association Middle School (AWMLP) Ms. Carroll introduced herself as the new AWMLP representative to the WIAA Honorary Board and shared her background. She reviewed for the Board the concerns and issues that middle level principals shared with her at their October conference. The issues were coaches education requirements for middle level coaches and on-line CPR classes. Mr. Meyerhoff agreed to assist Ms. Carroll regarding the education requirements, reminded the Board that on-line first aid and CPR classes are not accepted, and informed Ms. Carroll that there is a WSSAAA middle level committee that is working on updating the current middle level coaches’ handbook which is now online. State School Directors Association (WSSDA) Ms. Winskill reported on the State School Directors Association (WSSDA) conference and recent meeting of the IAC. She reiterated the concerns about the math WASL and the proposed postponement. Ms. Winskill stated that there is not 100 percent support for the proposed postponement of the math WASL and there are concerns about the budgetary impact of four years of mandatory math. State Superintendents Association (WASA) Dr. Smedley was not in attendance and Mr. Colbrese reported that members of the Superintendents Advisory Committee have not met since the September Board meeting. State Athletic Directors Association (WSSAAA) Mr. Lutes reported the 2007 WSSAAA Conference will be held April 12-15, 2007, which is a different time span than in previous years. The conference will be in Spokane with a focus on education. S:\EXECBD\MINUTES\2006-07\Minutes\06 December Minutes.doc WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES December 3-4, 2006 WIAA Office, Renton, Washington Page 4 Washington Officials Association (WOA) Mr. Stordahl provided an update on the legal issues in which the WOA is currently involved. He also encouraged Board members to closely examine participation in non- school sponsored tournament/events. These events are presented by outside business entities that may not be using registered officials. Ms. Hettinger added that the WIAA has no control over these events and many times the staff is unaware of the events until schools send their schedules for posting on the WIAA website. Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS) Mr. Hjelseth reported that the WFIS December Board meeting was postponed due to inclement weather until December 5, 2006. He shared that with the changes in the makeup of Washington State Board of Education the dynamic for private school may be also changing and he is looking forward to how the voice of private schools will be heard. Mr. Hjelseth informed the Board that WFIS now has a data base that could be utilized by the WIAA in the future for surveying private schools. Fine Arts Mr. Burton was unable to attend the meeting. State Coaches Association (WSCA) Mr. Laulainen reported that the WSCA Board was meeting at the same time as the WIAA Executive Board. He shared that membership has been bolstered since more school districts are paying the membership fees for their coaches. Mr. Laulainen outlined some of the concerns about the online rules clinics that he has heard from coaches. Ms. Hettinger provided updates and improvements that occurred with the winter clinics. Mr. Meyerhoff shared that in some cases league coaches met at one school and utilized the school’s computer lab to view the clinic and take the test. Members of the board that took the winter clinics shared that they were impressed with the presentation.