FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2008


Representative Assembly adopts proposal to expand composition of sectional appeals committees

GAINESVILLE – The 11th FHSAA Representative Assembly on Tuesday adopted three proposals to amend the Association's bylaws, including a proposal to expand the composition of each of the four FHSAA sectional appeals committees from five to seven members.

Also adopted were two proposed editorial revisions: one that changes the term "compliance audit" to "compliance review" to eliminate confusion over whether such procedures included an audit of a school's financial records; and the other to change the title of the Association's chief executive officer from "commissioner" to "executive director." Both were unanimously adopted by a vote of 50-0 and took effect immediately.

The four sectional appeals committees meet monthly August through April to consider requests filed by member schools seeking undue hardship eligibility waivers for student-athletes or appealing decisions made by the FHSAA staff in its enforcement of Association rules. The proposal to expand the composition of the committees was adopted by a vote of 49-1, and included the following provisions:

• The existing three member school seats on each committee – two held by public school representatives and one by a private school representative – will not be affected.

• The two seats on each committee currently held by district school superintendents and district school board members will be consolidated into one seat to be alternately shared by the two constituent groups and appointed by their respective associations – superintendents by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and school board members by the Florida School Boards Association. The initial rotation will be established by simply not appointing or reappointing the superintendent or school board member whose term of service expires at the end of this school year. Terms of service will continue to be three years, but superintendents and school board members will be limited to one term after which the seat will rotate to the other constituent group.

•. A new seat will be created on each committee for a second member from the private school sector, who may be either a regional- or school-based administrator or a member of a private school governing board within the section. The person will be appointed by the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools.

• A new seat will be created on each committee for an at-large member from an under-represented gender and/or racial minority. The person will be appointed by the FHSAA Board of Directors from among district-, regional- or school-based administrators in the section. If 60 percent or more of the schools within the section are public,a public school administrator must be appointed. If less than 60 percent of the schools within the section are public, a private school administrator must be appointed.

• A new seat will be created on each committee to be filled by an attorney living in the section who is appointed by the FHSAA Board of Directors. The attorney, who will serve as chairperson, cannot be connected with any member school, public school district or private school accrediting organization. Neither can the attorney represent student-athletes, coaches or athletic directors in any manner.

"The current five-member committees have served the Association well," said FHSAA Executive Director John A. Stewart. "However, there was a growing perception within a segment of our membership that perhaps these committees did not adequately reflect the ratio of public to private schools within each section, which might ultimately lead to decisions unfavorable to one group or the other. While the statistics did not necessarily support those perceptions, we believed that it was important to address the concerns in a proactive manner now, rather than in a reactive manner later. Obviously, the membership agreed, as is borne out by the 49-1 affirmative vote of their delegates to the Assembly."

The newly expanded committees will be seated by their first meetings of the 2008-09 school year.

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. The Representative Assembly is the legislative authority of the Association. It meets annually to consider proposals to amend the Association's bylaws.

Contacts:
Robert Hernberger
Director of Media Relations, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
rhernberger@fhsaa.org