MSHSAA proposal fails that would have helped small schools

Missouri high schools not affiliated with the Missouri State High School Activities Association will have to wait at least another year in order to participate against MSHSAA schools.

Once again, a proposal to allow non-MSHSAA schools to compete against MSHSAA schools was defeated. Needing a two-thirds majority to pass, a proposal which would have created a two-year experiment creating a new category of schools gained 65.3 percent of the vote. The item received 311 votes for and 165 against.

Saxony Lutheran athletic director Larry Cleair said he would have liked to see the item pass because it would have benefited small schools like Saxony Lutheran looking to find more competition close to home.

"I think for us, being the size we are, this would have helped us out if we add a sport to have people to play," he said. "I don't think it makes much difference for schools with 300 or 400 students. ... We would have liked to have seen it."

If passed, the proposal would have allowed area schools such as New Salem Baptist and Eagle Ridge Christian to participate against area MSHSAA member schools.

Of the 22 items voted on in the annual MSHSAA ballot, only two failed to pass. The other item which failed to pass would have flip-flopped the high school tennis seasons, moving the boys to fall and the girls to spring. The item needed only a simple majority to pass, but received only 54 votes for to 97 against.

Central coach Bud Craven said a move to the fall could have caused problems for his team, which is made up of mainly soccer players and swimmers, both fall sports.

"That would have knocked me out," he said.

Another item which could impact local area small schools, High School Cooperative Sponsorships, narrowly passed. The proposal will allow high schools in classes 1, 2 and 3 -- based upon the five-class enrollment break used for basketball -- to jointly sponsor a team in a sport and draw from both schools. The item received 213 votes for and 200 against.

Cleair said while it could take a couple of years to happen, he can see area small schools using the cooperative sponsorship to create teams.

"It makes it a little easier for small schools to make programs," he said. "I think it's a positive step."

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MSHSAA BALLOT

Twenty of 22 proposals voted on by Missouri State High Schools Activities Association member schools in April passed. Those passed become effective July 1.Results from notable proposals, which were announced last week:

PROPOSAL NO. 1

A two-year experiment to create a category of Affiliate Registered Schools that could compete against MSHSAA schools with high school athletes only under specific conditions. (Non-MSHSAA schools cannot currently compete against MSHSAA schools.) Needed 2/3 majority.

Failed: 311 in favor, 165 against (65.3 percent)

PROPOSAL NO. 6

Two MSHSAA member senior schools in classes 1, 2 and 3 of the five-classification enrollment breaks, can form a High School Cooperative Sponsorship to jointly sponsor a single team in a specific sport or activity and draw students from both schools. (Initial implementation for district football assignments will be 2006-07 and 2007-08).

Passed: 213 in favor, 200 against

PROPOSAL NO. 19

Switches the high school tennis seasons whereas the boys would play in the fall and the girls would play in the spring.

Failed: 54 in favor, 97 against