This bill would put Missouri high school sports in politicians’ hands | Opinion
Missouri lawmakers, please keep politics out of high school sports and other extracurricular activities.
Anyone concerned about this potential development — I know I am — take note: Just this week, a proposal that would gut the Missouri State High School Activities Association was referred to the state Senate’s education committee for further discussion.
If approved, Senate Bill 863 would eliminate MSHSAA and replace it with a board appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, a bad idea if you are a fan of sports at the secondary level. Political appointees have no place governing high school sports.
State Sen. Jason Bean, a Republican from southeast Missouri, sponsored the bill. I left an email and voicemail for Bean seeking comment but those messages weren’t returned.
In an email, I asked MSHSAA’s director of communication Andrew Kauffman if the organization planned to testify against the bill.
Kauffman replied: “We’re working with Senator Bean’s office on this.”
I must admit, after I wrote about a recent discrimination complaint filed against MSHSAA, I was worried that the GOP-led Missouri General Assembly would try to extract some sort of revenge. Even before lawmakers gathered in Jefferson City this week for the start of the General Assembly’s new session, Bean’s bill had already been prefiled.
Without speaking directly to Bean, I won’t speculate too much about the lawmaker’s motives here. But would I be too far off base to suggest there’s some correlation with the dubious discrimination claim being made?
After all, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway have launched investigations into MSHSAA’s policy that states the organization’s two at-large board seats must represent minorities or women.
MSHSAA’s role in schools
MSHSAA is the current governing body for interscholastic activities for secondary school students in the state. The organization’s 10-member board of directors and related committees are made up of superintendents, principals, athletic directors, coaches and others from member schools who have an educational background.
For Missouri to dissolve MSHSAA would not be wise.
While I’m no fan of the organization’s rules for student transfers and the like, all Missourians would be better served if we kept politics out of high school extracurricular activities.
NFHS against state takeover
Karissa Niehoff is the CEO of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Based in Indianapolis, NFHS sets the rules for multiple sports and other education-based programs across the country. MSHSAA is one of 51 state associations under its umbrella.
In 2023, Niehoff said in a video statement that the NFHS supports state associations to govern high school sports and performing arts programs
In the short video, Niehoff said nonpartisan nonprofit organizations like MSHSAA are best equipped to protect the welfare of student-athletes, not boards filled with political appointees.
I wholeheartdly agree. If you feel the same, make sure to contact your local state leader and let your voice be heard.
Niehoff added that political appointees and laypeople lack the expertise in working with kids, coaches, officials and school leaders.
“We stand in support of state associations out there and applaud the great work they’ve done across the country for more than 100 years,” she said.
I’m with Niehoff and the NFHS on this point: Could you imagine for a moment what the high school sports landscape would be like without the structure in place by state high school associations?
Missouri senators should sit this one out and not advance S.B. 863 out of committee.