FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2007
FHSAA apologizes to Sen. Gaetz for misunderstanding that led to misrepresentation of his comments in Jan. 29 news release
GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association office today issued an apology to Sen. Don Gaetz for misunderstanding statements he made during Sunday's meeting of the Association's Public Liaison Advisory Committee that led to a misrepresentation of those statements in a news release issued on Monday.
In that news release Gaetz (R-Niceville) was represented as saying that the Association "should quickly move forward with a revision to its athletic calendar that more closely mirrors the new starting date for classes."
The FHSAA Board of Directors on Monday voted to place on hold all scheduling for the 2007-08 school year while a review of the calendar took place.
"I apologize to Sen. Don Gaetz for any misrepresentation in our new release of his comments to the Public Liaison Advisory Committee," Commissioner John A. Stewart said. "I apologize on behalf of this office and on behalf of the Association. I have spoken to him and personally apologized to him by phone.
"It was not our intent to imply that Sen. Gaetz told us to revise our calendar or that Sen. Gaetz delivered any message from The Florida Senate to revise our calendar. We consider Sen. Gaetz a valuable member of the Public Liaison Advisory Committee and a friend of the Association. I apologize to him for any personal or professional distress that this incident has caused him. I hope and trust that he will remain a friend and continue to provide us with advice and guidance."
Stewart said that the staff will proceed with its review of the calendar and schools should hold off on any further scheduling until after the March 26 meeting of the FHSAA Board of Directors. The FHSAA will meet with members of the Florida House of Representatives and The Florida Senate, including Sen. Gaetz, to solicit their feedback and advice.
"One of the responsibilities of members of the Public Liaison Advisory Committee is to let the Association know about issues that we may need to address," Stewart said. "Sen. Gaetz was doing just that. He didn't order us to do anything. He didn't imply we needed to do anything. He said that we should adopt whatever calendar we believe is appropriate, but that we should be aware of other concerns that are out there as we work through the process. I think that is good advice, and we are taking that advice."
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle and senior public and private high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
Contacts:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
