Official Bylaw Proposals of the
First FHSAA Representative Assembly

Monday & Tuesday, Apr. 20-21, 1998
Daytona Beach Hilton
Daytona Beach, Florida


Here are the 10 proposals to amend the Bylaws of the Florida High School Activities Association, which will be considered by the FHSAA Representative Assembly at its meeting April 20 and 21, 1998 at the Daytona Beach Hilton in Daytona Beach, Florida. Two-thirds of the votes cast by delegates will be required to adopt any proposal. With the exception of Proposal 5, all proposals which are adopted will take effect July 1, 1998.

Proposal 1
A comprehensive revision of the FHSAA Bylaws as attached.
Intent: To better organize the Association’s bylaws by grouping all provisions dealing with the same topics under the same articles; to consolidate articles where possible; to eliminate redundant passages and contradictory statements; to eliminate all notes, interpretations and questions-and-answers which were adopted by the Board of Directors and/or old Executive Committee by codifying them into the bylaws; to clarify and simplify the language of provisions where possible; to revise the penalties and due process codes of this Association as required by Florida Law 97-53.
Rationale: The bylaws of this Association, while serving it well, have become a mish-mash through the years. Provisions dealing with the same one topic are scattered throughout and nearly impossible to follow. In some cases, two different provisions may contradict each other. This complete revision, which is long overdue, will greatly simplify this document for those individuals who have to work with it on a daily basis.
Impact: Some of the provisions included in this proposed revision are new. They include provisions for new members joining, for new sportsmanship rules, for defining sanctioned sports, for an adjustment to the age rules, and for the rights of students and schools to due process. The vast majority of the revision, however, will result in no impact to the rules other than to make them easier to follow.
Summary: A proposal to revise the Bylaws of the Florida High School Activities Association; reorganizing and rewording existing Articles, codifying existing notes into Articles and creating new provisions.
Sponsor: Commissioner Ronald N. Davis.

Proposal 2
Create new Article 9.3.1 to read as follows: “MEETINGS – The Sectional Appeals Committee shall meet nine times during the school year: between August 10 and 20, September 1 and 15, November 1 and 15, December 1 and 15, January 1 and 15, February 1 and 15, March 1 and 15, April 1 and 15.” (Note: Would be numbered as Article 4.3.6 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: That the Sectional Appeals Committee meet more often and regular enough to deal with appeals.
Rationale: There are no more late filing fees; there are no more conference calls; there are no more commissioner handled appeals. Yet there is no meeting from early December until late January and then no meeting again until mid March (leaving February out completely). Entire sports seasons can be lost waiting for the next meeting.
Impact: Might cost the Association a little more in per diem and travel, but it will allow more frequent and more regular hearings of hardship cases . . . which, in turn, may allow more students the opportunity to participate.
Summary: A proposal to increase the number of times the Sectional Appeals Committees meet from eight times to nine times each school year, and to establish a window of dates during which these meetings must be held.
Sponsor: Jay Rader, Athletic Director, Palm Beach Gardens High School.

Proposal 3
Create new Article 7.1.2 as follows: “QUALIFICATIONS OF COMMISSIONER – The Commissioner shall hold a master’s degree or higher with significant administrative experience and management skills and should have held the positions of high school principal/administrator or county level administrator with extensive athletic experience.” (Note: Would be numbered as Article 4.4.2 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: Sponsor did not state his intent.
Rationale: Sponsor did not state his rationale.
Impact: Only those individuals who hold a Master’s degree and who have been a high school principal or county level administrator with extensive athletic experience would be eligible to be employed as Commissioner.
Summary: A proposal to establish minimum qualifications for an individual holding the position of Commissioner.
Sponsor: Ernest Spiva Jr., Principal, Rutherford High School (Springfield).

Proposal 4
Create new Article 7.2.2 to read as follows: “QUALIFICATIONS OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER – The Deputy Commissioner shall hold a master’s degree or higher with significant administrative experience and management skills and should have held the positions of high school principal/administrator or county level administrator with extensive athletic experience.” (Note: Would be renumbered as Article 4.4.4 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: Sponsor did not state his intent.
Rationale: Sponsor did not state his rationale.
Impact: Only those individuals who hold a Master’s degree and who have been a high school principal or county level administrator with extensive athletic experience would be eligible to be employed as Deputy Commissioner.
Summary: A proposal to establish minimum qualifications for an individual holding the position of Deputy Commissioner.
Sponsor: Ernest Spiva Jr., Principal, Rutherford High School (Springfield).

Proposal 5
Create new Article 10.2.1 to read as follows: “CLASSIFICATIONS – All senior high schools supported wholly by state and county taxation shall constitute the public high school division. All other senior high schools not so supported shall constitute the private high school division. Schools in the public high school division shall be placed into classifications for statewide interscholastic competitions which shall lead to public high school division state championships. Schools in the private high school division shall be placed into classifications for statewide interscholastic competitions which shall lead to private high school division state championships. Under no circumstance shall schools in the public high school division and schools in the private high school division compete for the same state championship.” (If adopted, this amendment shall take effect July 1, 1999.) (Note: Would be numbered as Article 9.8.2, and references to private high schools changed to nonpublic high schools, if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: That public and private high schools not compete against one another for state championships. This amendment in no way should prevent athletic competition between public and private schools during the regularly scheduled season.
Rationale: To eliminate the opportunity of recruiting athletes which many of the larger (3A & 4A) private schools currently have the ability and fiscal resources to do.
Impact: Would prevent private schools from having an unfair advantage (recruiting) over public schools when state playoffs are at stake.
Summary: A proposal to require the conduct of separate state championship series competitions for public high schools and private high schools.
Sponsor: Walter Miller, Principal, North Marion High School (Citra).

Proposal 6
Reword Article 15.3.1 beginning with third sentence to read as follows: “. . . In all interstate contests each school shall be a member in good standing of a the state association and the National Federation. Violation of this . . .” (Note: Would be numbered as Article 9.6.2 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: Florida high schools will be allowed to participate in tournaments listing teams participating that are members of a state association. Example: New York State has a “Public School Association,” a Private School Association,” and a “New York City School Association.” It would be ludicrous for a school (i.e. team) to be a member of all three state associations as New York State recognizes all equally. Tournaments containing member schools in New York State are nationally sanctioned.
Rationale: Allow Florida high schools to participate in tournaments sponsored by out of state organizations and groups. Rule change may someday prevent FHSAA from a discrimination lawsuit by private/parochial schools.
Impact: Would allow Florida high schools to travel to out of state tournaments exposing high school students to various areas, cultures, etc. It would reflect favorably on Florida to be invited to other areas of the United States.
Summary: A proposal to allow member schools to participate in tournaments with out-of-state schools which are members of “a” state association and the National Federation rather than “a state association which is also a member of the National Federation.”
Sponsor: Richard J. Robbins, Athletic Director, Miami Norland High School.

Proposal 7
Rewrite Article 18.1.1 as follows: “It shall be the responsibility duty of the principal of each member school to file an annual eligibility report list with the Commissioner concerning the status of each prospective athlete. This information shall be furnished on a form to be supplied by this Association or through the Association’s electronic eligibility software. Each annual eligibility report list shall contain all the information required, including the legal names of the students written exactly as they appear on their birth certificates. The name of a student shall not be submitted to the Commissioner more than one time during a school year. A student whose name is submitted on an annual eligibility report using the Association’s electronic eligibility software shall be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic competition on the same day as his/her name is submitted to the Association office via computer. A student whose name is submitted on an annual eligibility report using the form supplied by the Association shall be eligible on the sixth day following the date of the postmark on the envelope in which the form is submitted. The envelope containing any annual eligibility list shall be addressed to the Commissioner and postmarked not less than five days prior to the day on which the students listed thereon expect to participate in an interscholastic athletic contest. Violations of the provisions relative to date of filing annual eligibility reports shall result in a financial penalty as determined by the Board of Directors.” (Note: Would be numbered as Article 11.13.1 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: To make better use of the FHSAA’s electronic eligibility software and the new and more rapid means of reporting annual eligibility.
Rationale: When I submit an eligibility list I would not be held back by an outdated waiting period established, I believe in part, to allow for mail and processing. However, now with Internet access and computer capabilities, the five-day waiting period is a liability.
Impact: This would allow schools the maximum amount of time to secure final rosters for reporting before the beginning of each sport season. It would eliminate the need for calculating submissions that are immediate but with a built-in five-day waiting period for no real beneficial reason. It is difficult enough gathering accurate submission information without having to calculate five days ahead of a first game to submit information.
Summary: A proposal to eliminate the requirement that annual eligibility reports filed with the FHSAA Office be postmarked five days in advance of the first contest only for those member schools which use the Association’s electronic eligibility software.
Sponsors: Jeffrey G. Haynes, Principal, Dixie Hollins High School (St. Petersburg); Darin Slack, Athletic Director, The Master’s Academy (Winter Park).

Proposal 8
Consolidate Articles 18.2.1, 18.2.2 and 18.2.3 and rewrite as follows: “It shall be the responsibility of the principal of each member school which intends to enter a team or individual competitor(s) into a state championship series sponsored by this Association to file with the Commissioner an official entry list on which are listed the names of those students who will represent the school in the state championship series. The official entry list shall be filed either on a form to be furnished by the Commissioner or through the Association’s electronic eligibility software. A student’s name shall not be submitted to the Commissioner on an official entry list unless that student’s name has also been submitted on an annual eligibility report. A member school which fails to file an official entry list with the Commissioner by the deadline established by the Board of Directors shall be subject to a financial penalty. A member school which wishes to add the name of an otherwise eligible student to an official entry list after the deadline for submission has passed may do so upon application of the principal. Such a late addition to the official entry list will result in the assessment of an administrative fee to be determined by the Board of Directors.” Delete Articles 18.2.2 and 18.2.3. (Note: Would be numbered as Article 11.14.1 if Proposal 1 is adopted, with Articles 11.14.2 and 11.14.3 deleted.)
Intent: To include the use of FHSAA’s electronic eligibility software, and to do away with the 15-day buffer and encourage discussion regarding a reduced waiting period.
Rationale: The 15-day window is too large, now that we have an immediate way to submit information to FHSAA. Also, we will have more time to determine district entry lists before the tournament.
Impact: In keeping with the increased ease of reporting, we can reduce the number of days needed to communicate with FHSAA regarding lists and eligibility. This will give the coaches and AD’s more time to get their lists completed and reduce the number of needed changes due to injury and last-minute switches.
Summary: A proposal to eliminate the 15-day advance submission of official entry lists only for those member schools which use the Association’s electronic eligibility software.
Sponsors: Jeffrey G. Haynes, Principal, Dixie Hollins High School (St. Petersburg); Darin Slack, Athletic Director, The Master’s Academy (Winter Park).

Proposal 9
Rewrite Article 19.7.2 as follows: “. . . To be eligible during any semester after the first semester of the 1997-98 school year, he/she must have complied with the minimum grade point average required by state statute through the immediate preceding semester. A period of seven (7) calendar days beyond the last day of the system marking period is provided to determine academic eligibility during the current school year.” (Note: Would delete second sentence of Article 11.2.12 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: To allow students who have been determined to have reestablished academic eligibility to play immediately upon school administrative approval, and not have to be penalized an additional seven days for achieving re-eligibility.
Rationale: Most coaches and administrators are very aware of their athletes’ academic status prior to the total ingathering of all students’ printed grades. To make the athlete wait on paperwork is really not fair to them or the team if they have done the work necessary to gain proper status.
Impact: This would allow basketball players to participate in Christmas tournaments without having to wait the seven-day administrative period, and the same would be true for the soccer players as well. (Staff note: Actually, this is incorrect, Article 19.7.2 Note 1 states that, “A student who is eligible for a semester shall continue to be eligible during the period of vacation between semesters, provided he/she meets all eligibility requirements. Likewise, a student who is ineligible for a semester shall continue to be ineligible during the period of vacation between semesters.” This note is not deleted by Proposal 9 and would remain in effect. Additionally, this note becomes part of new Article 11.2.9 if Proposal 1 is passed.)
Summary: A proposal to eliminate the seven-day waiting period following a semester for determining a student’s eligibility or ineligibility for the following semester.
Sponsor: Darin Slack, Athletic Director, The Master’s Academy (Winter Park).

Proposal 10
Create new Article 19.7.2 as follows: “Principals will certify academic eligibility based upon each school’s grading scale and that, as a minimum, the 2.0 grade point average has to be equivalent to 77 percent. If an athlete’s eligibility is challenged, it will be the principal’s responsibility to prove the eligibility.” Delete Article 19.7.1 Note 2. Renumber existing Article 19.7.2 as 19.7.3 and existing Article 19.7.3 as 19.7.4. (Note: Would be a rewrite of Article 11.2.2 if Proposal 1 is adopted.)
Intent: To allow member private schools flexibility in setting their grading scales as long as 77 percent remains the minimum needed for a 2.0.
Rationale: Private schools are not subject to state law and, therefore, do not have to comply with the state-mandated grading scale for public schools, except as required through their voluntary membership in the FHSAA and compliance with its bylaws.
Impact: Private schools could establish a different grading scales from the one required for use by public schools as long as they require 77 percent as the minimum required for a 2.0 grade point.
Summary: A proposal to allow member private schools flexibility in determining their grading scales.
Sponsor: FHSAA Board of Directors.