Statehouse bill would regulate MSHSAA

A bill filed in the Missouri House seeks to regulate the Missouri State High School Activities Association through legislative scrutiny.

It also opens the door for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide oversight at the discretion of the State Board of Education.

State Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, filed House Bill 1232 late last week.

A vocal critic of MSHSAA, Cunningham said the legislation is needed to provide oversight of an organization that she believes is out of control and doesn't treat all its members fairly.

"As an organization, we're always concerned with legislation that would take control away from our member schools and the democratic system they have established," MSHSAA officials said in brief statement issued Thursday.

The organization of more than 1,000 public and private junior high and high schools in the state governs student competitions from sports to marching band.

Under the bill, no public school could participate in MSHSAA or any similar association unless that organization's proposed rules and regulations pass the scrutiny of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The committee of five senators and five representatives is charged with monitoring proposed and existing rules of the various departments and divisions of state government. The goal is to ensure state agencies don't exceed their authority and that the agencies effectively accomplish their missions.

Cunningham's bill would allow DESE to provide administrative oversight for all public schools that participate in extracurricular activities as well any private school that elects to have the state agency provide such supervision.

DESE spokesman Jim Morris said agency officials wouldn't comment on the bill.

Naylor School District superintendent Stephen Cookson welcomed Cunningham's bill. "I believe it is time that MSHSAA is given a measure of outside accountability and oversight," he said.

Cookson and the Naylor school board have been at odds with MSHSAA officials since last year.

MSHSAA's board of directors in January decided to punish the small Ripley County school district for alleged residency violations, ordering Naylor to forfeit all its high school girls basketball and softball games played last year, including its girls basketball district championship. The Naylor girls basketball team also was barred form playing in the post-season district tournament this spring.

Cookson contends MSHSAA has ignored similar allegations that surfaced in other school districts. In February, Cookson filed a complaint against the Bell City School District. That complaint is still pending before the MSHSAA board.

Cunningham said the legislation likely won't pass the House by the time the legislative session ends May 18.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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