Board of Directors Meeting Release: October 3, 2024
Posted: Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 3:43 PM
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- On the eve of a Member School vote to support 9th Grade Governance, the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors at its scheduled meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, approved language for an additional proposed Constitutional Amendment that will also be included on the ballot. This amendment proposes changing and updating archaic and inconsistent language contained in the League’s Constitution.
The proposed amendment approved on Thursday will accompany a proposed amendment approved by the Board of Directors in June that seeks to fully include 9th grade programs in all aspects of the League. Electronic voting opens on Friday, Oct. 4 and closes on Friday, Oct. 18. Each Member School may cast one vote. Three-quarters of the League’s Member Schools are required for a voting quorum, and two-thirds must vote in the affirmative to support the Constitutional changes.
In discussing 9th Grade Governance, the League’s Board of Directors continue to voice their support.
“This is an exciting time for the Minnesota State High School League,” said Board of Directors President Don Peschel, superintendent of Sauk Centre Public Schools. “At the request of the Member Schools, the Board of Directors has studied and examined a transition from a 10-12 organizational model to a 9-12 model. As a group, the Board of Directors concluded that creating consistency and including ninth-grade students in the League’s governance far outweighs any of the challenges of implementation. It just makes sense.”
At its meeting on April 4, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the call to create a 9th Grade Governance Task Force. The task force, comprised of Member School superintendents, principals, and activities directors, was asked to provide recommendations of bylaw and policy changes necessary in the governance transition.
Member Schools have had numerous opportunities to engage in conversations and considerations of this amendment, including the recently concluded League-led Area Meetings across Minnesota. Several consistent and important themes have emerged in support of 9th Grade Governance:
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Almost all high schools in Minnesota currently include 9th grade.
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Consistency would be built across programs and school districts that are already structured in a 9-12 model.
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Beginning in 9th grade, students determine their school of enrollment and begin their four consecutive years of eligibility.
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Rules, bylaws and policies that would now apply to all 9th grade students would provide additional health and safety requirements.
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The inclusion of 9th grade students in the League would provide catastrophic and concussion insurance coverage for all 9th grade students in League programs.
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The additional investment by the League to cover insurance costs is very affordable.
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This would align Minnesota with other state associations in serving all 9th – 12th graders.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment that was approved on Thursday further updates the Constitution with current language. While amending the language does not change Constitutional intent, the approved updates reflect changes in the League and accurately identify common terminology used by the League and its Member Schools. Examples of the changes include:
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Replacing “district” with “section or subsection.”
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Inserting accurate language relative to insurance coverage.
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Adding “electronic voting” to “mail ballot.”
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Replacing “regulations” with “bylaws and policies.”
The League will monitor voting returns, canvas the results and bring final results to the Board of Directors for review and approval. The League will communicate the final outcome of the balloting with Member Schools, and work will continue with the 9th Grade Governance Task Force as needed.
If 9th Grade Governance is approved, it will be for implementation for the 2025-2026 school year.
In other Action Items, the Board of Directors acted on Spring Advisory Proposals:
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Approved the seeding of all Baseball teams in each classification Nos. 1-8.
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In Golf, two proposals were approved: One provides clarification on the definition of a two-day, 36-hole limit. The other modifies the rule that all teams in a two-day event must count it as two events if any team changes its lineup on day two. The new policy indicates only the team that changes its lineup will be deemed to have played in two contests.
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Approved the seeding of both Girls and Boys Lacrosse teams Nos. 1-8.
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Approved the seeding of Softball teams in each classification Nos. 1-8.
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In Speech, two proposals were approved: One is to modify the penalty for exceeding the time limit from being ranked last in a round to the participant being dropped one rank in the round. The other is to eliminate the removal of the Selection Rule and allow participants to adjust their speech based on feedback from judges and coaches as they advance in rounds.
