LHSAA split plan still on, but study is commissioned

Updated as of 11:52 a.m.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee deferred its controversial split football playoff plan to a committee for study as it opened its Wednesday morning meeting.

LHSAA President Todd Guice, of Ouachita Parish High, recommended that the plan that is scheduled to go into effect this fall be sent to the school relations committee for additional study. At the same time, questions about the constitutionality of the plan were not directly answered. Though it was not discussed in the meeting, Executive Director Kenny Henderson said the legal opinion the LHSAA received about those constitutional issues was inconclusive.

“We want more information ... we want it to be studied more,” Guice said during a break. “This does not stop it (split proposal). We don’t want to make any decisions without looking at everything thoroughly, and that committee (school relations) is set up to do that. You’ve got select schools and nonselect schools involved.”

Once the school relations committee reports its findings to the executive committee at its June meeting, Guice said he will call a special meeting during the summer for all LHSAA members. At the special meeting, principals would reconsider/amend the plan that is scheduled to divide schools into separate football playoff divisions for select (private, charter, magnet, dual-curriculum and laboratory schools) and nonselect (traditional public schools).

Henderson recommended that the school relations committee be expanded by three to five members and suggested that Winnfield Principal Jane Griffin, a driving force behind the split plan that principals passed in January, be among those asked to serve.

Henderson also suggested that the school relations committee meetings be closed to the public and media so that committee members can speak freely and consider a wide range of alternatives.

A handful of select school representatives attended the meeting and waited until the committee took a break to question Henderson about the constitutional opinion the LHSAA received Tuesday afternoon.

“We did (get the opinion),” Henderson said. “And that’s to be shared with the board (executive committee). There has not been a definitive, clear answer. It depends on how you want to interpret it. With that being said, that’s why we’re going to go back and leave it up to the schools.”

At a meeting last month, select schools pointed out contradictions within the LHSAA’s constitution that do not agree with the select/nonselect plan that calls for five nonselect playoff classes and two select playoff classes.

The LHSAA constitution also states that teams can only play above their enrollment-based class and the select/nonselect plan as approved would require 5A schools to play down to face 4A and 3A schools.

“I do think the fact that they (executive committee) are willing to send it to the school relations committee gives me some cause for optimism,” University High Athletic Director Jill White said. “That committee can look into article 18 and maybe come up with something that works better, maybe some sort of compromise. Hopefully, it will be something the select and nonselect can look to and say, ‘OK, we’re trying to forge an agreement.’ “

White also said that University is asking for a copy of the legal opinion.

Henderson said making the proper decision for all schools should be the goal.

“You want to make the right decision and have more of a buy-in from all the schools involved,” Henderson said, “and not just have the executive committee having to make decisions.

“I think we’ll hit the ground hard with the school relations committee and make sure everybody gets minutes so that they know what is going on. There will be surveys sent out. We have to look at some things that have led us to this point. You have to look at high profile transfers. Those are the things that draw a lot of attention.”

Comments

1) Comment by bigggordon - 04/04/2013

I think too many people are making this about wins. It just happens to be the winning teams are select schools from last year for whatever reasons. The issue is fairness. The select and non-select schools are not equal. Its a matter of a level playing field. No matter how you state your case for select and non-select do not have the same enrollment admissions. They are not governed by the same academic standards. The split is formed to make the teams with the same academic & admissions standards face each other in post-season play. It's not about the wins and losses which it seems some are trying to make it out to be. It's not "watering down" anything. It makes it where teams that are equal play for a championship which seems fair. LHSAA is a private non-profit organization (ruled by supreme court) governed by the principals of our state who know what our schools need more than anyone. Principals write the proposals & the principals vote on them. Whether you are on the select or non-select side of the issue, it is the fair way to do it. People are bad mouthing the LHSAA but they are doing the same operations they have done during their tenure. All of a sudden people are upset with a decision voted on by the principals which has been going on for years. Every two years proposal are made, amended, and voted on. Some involved are sad and some involved are happy. This year was no different. Organizations have been voting on differences for many years and majority rules. Why would this be any different. If this one is not successful the principals can change it in two years. People have said, "they do not believe law makers should get involved," which I fully agree with so why are they? What is going to the the legislators teaching our youth. If you don't like the fair vote, just go above their heads? I believe it is time for a change so we need to deal with the decision that has been made fairly and move on.

2) Comment by Dawson - 21/03/2013

The non-select schools have so many advantages I don't see how the select schools compete in the first place. Just split and leave the incompetent, hypocritical LHSAA. Why would anyone want to be the member of a club that doesn't want you?

3) Comment by TommyRucker - 21/03/2013

The public schools are already giving the kids are these non- select a poor education as they are pretty much baby sitters, so now it appears that, instead of trying to push for greater true achievement, they are going to 'water things down' and lie to these kids and make them think they are really 'state champions'. If these select schools are getting some unfair advantages, then the LHSAA needs to better regulate recruiting, scholarships, etc. If you don't think non-select public schools don't illegally recruit, you are living on another planet as the whole process is out of control and needs to be addressed but THIS is the wrong solution and giving these kids some sort of dishonest and misrepresented honor is WRONG and is teaching them the wrong lesson. I don't see how giving kids something that is not really what is states to be, just to make the feel good for a brief period a good thing and is teaching them the wrong life principles. There are plenty of honest ways to make kids feel good about themselves, why is the LHSAA resorting to a dishonest approach?? Who is really being served by all of this?? It sure is not the kids as it appears they are being USED-again!!!!

4) Comment by TommyRucker - 21/03/2013

This is athletic 'affirmative' action where kids are going to be given some sort of FALSE award BECAUSE their schools cannot compete with other schools. If the athletic regulatory system cannot assure that all school compete on an equal basis then they need to cease to exist but it seems that either they don't want to do it so they are just going to create new sections where the kids are going to be told they are winning something which really is not TRUE and and not real but if they can make them THINK they are winning something (even though it is untrue), it is OK. It is the same thing as giving kids diplomas and degrees just to make them 'feel better' even when they have not earned them. Unfortunately they are turning out kids who EXPECT to be rewarded, paid, etc. no matter how poorly they perform. Why doesn't the LHSAA just work to make the playing field equal and let the people who work harder, put more into these programs set the standards high achieve the rewards they deserve. The LHSAA can restrict recruiting, etc. The LHSAA is setting up a 'fake' award system akin to the 'special olympics' vs the 'real' olympics but are trying to make the records, awards and etc. mean the same. If they are going to set up a section for 'disadvantaged' kids then they need to call it such and not try to make it out to be something that it is not as it is an insult to these kids to lie to them as they give them some sort of 'false' award. It would be a lot better to restrict recruiting, scholarships, etc. in order to better level the playing field rather than to insult the 'disadvantaged' schools and give them some sort of 'false' award. We are creating to many divisions, dimensions, categories, special groups, etc. in our society today and we don't need the LHSAA creating MORE and in effect teaching a FALSEHOOD to our kids and lying to them.

5) Comment by Sandy - 20/03/2013

Select schools should just pull out and form their own organization. It is clear that the LHSAA views them as second class citizens. If they form their own governing body, the public schools will look very foolish for their pettiness and their product will be of much lower quality.

6) Comment by BRmoderate - 20/03/2013

This vote should not be allowed in a special session!!!! It was already voted upon at the convention. This special session will not achieve the attendance figures that a full convention gets. Private school principals will turn out in droves but public school principals will not because of summer school. This is a plot to circumvent a measure that has already been voted on and approved by the MAJORITY. What a crock...

7) Comment by Raven72 - 20/03/2013

Why keep the meetings away from the public and media? There's some kind of deal in the works and Henderson is afraid to let people know about it.