PREP VOTE SITS WELL WITH AREA SCHOOLS

Missouri high school athletics recently survived a test of its unity.

In a vote to separate private and public state championships, Missouri's 567 high schools definitively said, "United we stand." Among voting to separate individual sports championships, voting generally ran at least 2-1 against.

Boys and girls basketball received the closest challenge, but survived with a 284-192 vote. Instead of voting for separate championships, members voted to adopt proposed rule amendments to help control some perceived advantages of private schools. The amendments ranged from reduction of the attendance radius from 40 miles to 25 miles to establishment of an investigative committee for possible improprieties.

Among area high school athletic directors, reaction to the vote varied, but seemed to range from happy to ecstatic.

Notre Dame athletic director Chris Janet coach was a member of the amendment committee and a vocal opponent to title separation.

"I put a lot of time and effort lobbying against that," said Janet. "Obviously I had some strong feelings toward it and was really elated when I found out the results."

Janet said the push for separate titles came from the northwest region of the state. And while the remainder of the state was not as vocal, the dissenting vote and amendment adoption was not lost on him.

"I think it says a lot of people say we do have a problem and I think we have to work to get a better understanding of each other," said Janet

Recruiting from a broad area has been one of the basic allegations and perceived advantages by private schools.

While Notre Dame draws from a wide area, Janet said 99 percent of Notre Dame's student body is a product of the local catholic school system.

"People don't realize that and know how it works," said Janet. "Perception can be a big problem."

He added the 25-mile radius will have little or no affect on Notre Dame athletics.

St. Vincent of Perryville athletic director Bruce Valleroy also does not anticipate any negative affects due to the new radius.

"I'm more relieved than anything," said Valleroy of the vote. "We were worried about transportation and all. We didn't feel this was fair to our kids."

In Missouri there are 501 public high schools and 66 non-public. If the vote had passed, the non-public schools would have had longer trips to district and state competitions.

"I think it opened some people's eyes," said Valleroy. "It was good everyone came together and expressed their feelings. It's good for the kids. I think it would have been a bad situation if it happened."

Cape Girardeau Central athletic director Terry Kitchen was of a similar mind, noting desegregation and improprieties among public schools.

"There were no bylaw changes directed toward the public, but as result of the rule changes I think it opened the eyes of public schools too," said Kitchen.

He viewed the separation vote as an overreaction.

"In my opinion, before you ever say split private and public, let's take a look at the rules in effect and see what happens," said Kitchen. "Before we ever say let's split them, I'd like to see private schools play a division higher like they do in Illinois. I think we can work this out together."

Jackson athletic director Kevin Bohnert was also happy with the result of the vote, calling the amendments a step in the right direction and describing the division attempt as an "amputation that wasn't needed."

"I think some serious action needed to be taken," said Bohnert. "I think for years it got swept under the carpet and that's not going to happen anymore."

Scott City athletic director Terry Flannigan had mixed emotions on the results. While the proposed action was drastic, he couldn't help but recall a thumping the Rams suffered in the 1996 Class 2A basketball quarterfinals to Cardinal Ritter, a non-public school that featured two future Atlantic Coast Conference players.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," said Flannigan. "We'll see and hope it helps parity. You never know. There are so many loopholes anymore. There's a way to get around about anything. I guess we'll find out when the rules are tested. That will be the true measure of it. We'll see if the state backs up its stand."