Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis, Feb. 2, 2023

Minnesota State High School League   

Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis   

League Office, Brooklyn Center, MN    

Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023    

 Welcome   

• Board member Dave Rocheleau provided the reflection.   
• Board President Troy Stein called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.  
• The Board of Directors approved the consent agenda.   
• The Board of Directors approved the meeting minutes of Dec. 1, 2022. 
• Public comments were heard from Aaron Rothenberg (Girls/Boys Tennis, St. Peter High School); Scott Storrick (Girls/Boys Tennis, Coon Rapids High School); Robb DeCorsey (Girls Tennis, Glencoe-Silver Lake; Boys Tennis, Shakopee) and Jaime Sherwood (Region 2AA Secretary). 

Lobbyist Report  

• League Lobbyist Roger Aronson shared updates from the State Legislature.  
• Shared information about possible employment law changes that may affect the League.  

Legal Counsel Report   

• Legal Counsel Kevin Beck reported there are no pending legal actions.    

Executive Director’s Report   

Executive Director Erich Martens:   

• Shared that National Women and Girls in Sports Day was celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Recognition included individuals that have roots with participation in Minnesota State High School League activities.  
• Provided an update on MSHSL Foundation Form Grant B1 and shared a reminder that Form B2 Grant Applications are open until Wednesday, Feb. 15. The MSHSL Foundation Board will meet on Tuesday, March 7 to approve B1 and B2 Grant Applications. 
• Yielded the floor to Board Member Amanda Kaus, who shared an update from the NFHS Board of Directors. She represents Sections 5 and 8 on the NFHS Board of Directors.  
• Attended the NFHS Officials Consortium 2.0 gathering in Indianapolis with League Staff member Jason Nickleby. Representatives from high schools, colleges, youth sports, officials groups, etc., gathered to discuss, collaborate and plan action in recruiting and retaining officials and addressing the shortage of officials. 
• Announced that Moorhead High School’s Rebecca Meyer-Larson is the recipient of the prestigious NFHS Citation Award for Performing Arts (Theater). She will be recognized during the NFHS Summer Meeting this July in Seattle, WA. 
• Yielded the floor to League Staff to share two state level award recipients. Luke Klassen of Mountain Lake Area High School was the Spirit of Sport Award recipient and Lakia Manska of Morris Area High School was the Heart of the Arts recipient. 
• Shared that the League hosted a booth during the Minnesota School Boards Association Conference on Thursday, Jan. 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. League Staff also hosted two informational breakout sessions during the conference. Thanked Board Member Jeanna Lilleberg for moderating the League presentations. 
• League Staff provided a review from the Debate State Tournament held in January.  
• The Principals Advisory Committee met to review League updates, provided feedback on the activity advisory proposals, and shared in engaging discussion of the Adoption of Programs Task Force. 
• Shared that the League presented during the MASSP Conference last week and held an engaging discussion on the importance of activities within the school environment, the value of participation, classification and Competitive Section Placement. 
• The ExCEL Award recipients will be recognized during the Girls Basketball State Tournament on Saturday, March 18 at Williams Arena. 
• The Triple “A” Banquet is March 25 at the Minneapolis Loews Hotel. The recipients will then be recognized during the Boys Basketball State Tournament at Target Center.  
• The MnIAAA Conference will be held during the final week of March. The League will be an active participant with presentations planned. The League appreciates its partnership with the MnIAAA. 
• Open Board Positions will be considered over the next few months with the goal that all new members will be selected by the June meeting. Openings include a Governor Appointee, Region 1A/2A, Region 5AA/6AA, MSBA, MASA (AA Supt), MMEA and Boys Sports. 

Executive Committee Report  

Board President Troy Stein reported:   

• The committee met at the League Office on Wednesday, Feb. 1.  
• Approved an extra-game waiver for teams that play St. Croix Prep/Gentry Academy in Boys Lacrosse 
• Approved support of attendance at the NFHS Summer Meeting, June 28-July 2, 2023, in Seattle. 
• Approved language in the Employee Handbook as it relates to weather-related challenges. 
• The Board of Directors approved an Action Item for an expanded tournament format at the section and state tournament levels for Girls Wrestling. 
• Reviewed the Activity Advisory Proposal Process. 
• Heard updates from the Adoption of Programs Task Force. 
• Received updates on the Classification and Competitive Section Placement Process. 
• Reviewed a proposal for section awards. 
• Approved the 2023 Board Workshop dates as July 30-Aug. 1 in Spicer, Minn. 
• The Executive Committee report was approved as presented. 

Action Items  

9A: Wrestling Weight Classes  

• The Board of Directors approved implementing 13 weight divisions for both Girls and Boys Wrestling, effective in the 2023-2024 school year. This change is a result of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Wrestling Rules committee requiring each state association to determine whether their state will utilize 12, 13, or 14 weight classes 
• The approved weight divisions for Girls Wrestling are: 100 pounds; 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235. 
• The approved weight divisions for Boys Wrestling are: 107 pounds, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285. 

9B: Fall Activity Advisory Proposals 

• Football: A motion to approve an Activity Advisory Proposal to seed Nos. 1-8 in Class Nine-Player through Class AAAAA prior to the state-level quarterfinal round was not approved by the Board of Directors.  
• Soccer: The Board of Directors approved an Activity Advisory Proposal to implement running time in the second half if the goal-differential is five or more. 
• The Board of Directors approved an Activity Advisory Proposal the elimination of overtime in regular season games when the contest is tied at the end of regulation.  
• Tennis: The Board of Directors approved an Activity Advisory Proposal to seed Nos. 1-5 the Class A Boys and Girls qualifying teams prior to the state-level quarterfinal round. 
• A motion to approve an Activity Advisory Proposal to increase the number of classes in Girls and Boys Tennis to three was not approved by the Board of Directors.  
• Volleyball: The Board of Directors approved an Activity Advisory Proposal to have the option to increase the number of players on an official squad from 15 to 18.  

Discussion Items  

10A: Together We Make a Difference  

• League Staff shared an update on the Together We Make a Difference initiative that took place on Friday, Jan. 13 at Park Center High School. The League appreciates the strong partnership of MSBA, MASSP, MASA, AMSD, MNIAAA, MSHSCA, the Osseo Area School District and Forbes Solutions in this initiative.  Next steps are to receive summary information from the regional and statewide conferences.  

10B: Representative Assembly  

• The Representative Assembly is scheduled to convene Tuesday, May 9, 2023.  
• One proposed bylaw amendment is to create a separate bylaw for Adapted Athletics Programs. The authors of the proposed bylaw amendment are working closely with, and supported by, the Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association. 
• The other proposed bylaw amendment is to sanction Boys Volleyball as a fully interscholastic sport for the 2024-2025 school year.  

10C: Postseason Awards  

• At the request of Region Secretaries, an adjustment in the number of postseason medals is currently being studied and will likely be proposed for teams and individuals that are successful at the section level. A four-person caucus group of Region Secretaries developed a recommended draft revision of the trophies and medals awarded at the section level. League Staff members are reviewing the proposal and will also be reviewed by the AD’s Advisory Committee. This proposal may be an Action Item at the Board of Directors meeting as soon as April 6.  

10D: Classification and Competitive Section Placement: 2023-2024, 2024-2025  

• League Staff provided an update on this process, which is ready to be implemented when enrollment data is received by the Minnesota Department of Education.  

Committee Reports  

11A: Eligibility Committee  

• The Eligibility Committee report included updated data on the number of cases and outcomes and was approved as presented.  

11B: Audit/Finance Committee  

• The Board of Directors approved the November 2022 and December 2022 financial statements.  
• Reported that fall tournament attendance and revenue matched or exceeded those of 2021. 

11C: Marketing and Communications Committee  

• League Staff shared information on preparations being done to host media at winter state tournaments. This includes a virtual Media Forum and online credentialing with new options implemented as a result of feedback from the Media Advisory  
• League Staff shared a marketing and sponsorship update that included increases in merchandise sales and a discussion about developing an overall marketing plan for the League.   
• League Staff shared website analytics in the following categories: Website Page Views, Online Program Views and Social Media engagement. 
• Additional management tools and public resources continue to be developed on the website.  

11D: Education and Leadership Committee  

• League Staff are engaged in generating a restructured rules manual for Dance Team. The restructured guidance will address rules only. Dance Team is not a NFHS-sanctioned activity. 
• Cross Country-specific officiating rules will be included in the Track and Field Rules Interpretation meeting.  
• League Staff are working with 10 students as part of the S.A.L.T. (Student Advisory Leadership Team). The students on this leadership team will be involved in the
• League’s state tournament events, including providing social media content. 
• League Staff will work on new protocols or initiatives from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee that may fit into new Coaching Education Requirements. 
• League Staff is discussing current content and copyrights with the Anybody Can Save a Life program. 

Information Items  

• Board Workshop: Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 2 p.m. 
• NFHS Summer Meeting: June 28-July 2, 2023, Seattle, WA 
• The meeting was adjourned at 12:47 p.m.