Board of Directors Meeting Release: February 6, 2025
Posted: Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 3:30 PM
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- Amending the Minnesota State High School League’s Bylaws and Policies in preparation for the implementation of 9th Grade Governance took another step on Thursday, Feb. 6 when the Board of Directors convened for their scheduled meeting at the League Office.
The Board of Directors approved work done by the 9th Grade Governance Task and League Staff to update the 100 and 500 Series of Bylaws as it relates to the implementation of 9th Grade Governance for the 2025-2026 school year.
The Bylaw 100 Series addresses General Eligibility Bylaws that provide direction and assistance to Member School officials in the administration of the student eligibility program. The bylaws include Grade Level Eligibility, Enrollment, Credit Requirement, Scholastic Eligibility, Seasons of Participation, Semesters Enrolled and Transfer and Residence.
The Bylaw 500 Series covers Interscholastic Athletic Activities under the governance of the League. These bylaws address items such as maximum number of contests and daily and season team and individual participation limits in 23 athletic activities. These rules are in place to ensure the fairness of competition by Member Schools.
“This has been an incredible team effort by the Task Force and League Staff,” said Board of Directors President Don Peschel, the superintendent of the Sauk Centre Public Schools. “Each bylaw passage has been reviewed, discussed, edited and updated to ensure that it conforms with the implementation of 9th Grade Governance in the fall. On behalf of the Board of Directors, this service to the Member Schools during this implementation process is greatly appreciated.”
With the approval of the Board of Directors, the Bylaw 100 and Bylaw 500 Series will be sent to the Representative Assembly for amendment approval consideration on May 13. Before that, though, the amended bylaws will be sent to the 16 Region Committees for review and feedback.
The Bylaw 200, 300 and 400 Series were a Discussion Item during today’s Board of Directors Meeting. The Bylaw 200 Series addresses Student Eligibility, the Bylaw 300 Series provides information on the Administration of Student Eligibility and the Bylaw 400 Series outlines the Administration of Athletic Programs.
Work by the task force and League Staff will continue on those series of bylaws and then will be discussed in depth at the Board of Directors Workshop in March. Those three bylaw series will be an Action Item at the Board of Directors Meeting on April 3, 2025.
In other action, the Board of Directors approved:
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A Boys and Girls Tennis Fall Activity Advisory Proposal that permits increased access for coaches to coach their players in match and on court was approved.
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A League-recommended policy that clarifies the current rule that the MN Head Coach Requirements apply to all Member Schools in all athletics. While this has been a state statute and a League requirement for many years, the approved policy provides direct and clear language that is far less likely to be misunderstood.
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The formation of an Enrollment and Eligibility Ad Hoc Committee to further study and recommend potential language to connect enrollment and eligibility, specifically, for students who are enrolled in public school administered online schooling as well as other newer models of education.
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A contract with Andrew Peden to fill the position of Director of Finance. This position is open due to the upcoming retirement of Rich Matter.
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An adjustment to the schedule of Championship Saturday during the Girls Basketball State Tournament on March 15, 2025. The Class A and Class AAA finals will be played in Session 1. Class AA and Class AAAA will play its title games in Session 2.
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The schedule for the 2025 Girls Softball State Tournament. The first three days of the event will be played June 3-5 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. The four-game Championship Day Series is Friday, June 6 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
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A schedule for the inaugural League-sponsored Boys Volleyball State Tournament. The single-class three-day event is scheduled to be held June 10-12 at the University of St. Thomas.
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The state tournament ticket prices, inclusive of facility fees for the 2024-2025 winter season.
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An annual sponsorship contribution of $3,500 in support of the NASO Sports Officiating Summit. The sponsorship includes complimentary registrations. The League will sponsor the summit in 2027.
