Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis, Feb. 4, 2021

Minnesota State High School League

Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis

League Office, Brooklyn Center and via digital platform

Thursday, February 4, 2021, 9 a.m.

Welcome

·       Board President Blaine Novak called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.

·       Board member Gary Revenig provided the reflection.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the meeting agenda.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the meeting minutes of Dec. 3, 2020.

·       The meeting moved into a closed session at 9:36 a.m.

·       The meeting returned to an open session at 11:17 a.m.

Lobbyist Report

·       League Lobbyist Roger Aronson shared updates from the State Legislature that included budget forecasts and an update on federal stimulus funds granted to states for education.

·       The Legislature is back and session and work is primarily being done through virtual platforms.

Legal Counsel Report

·       Legal Counsel Kevin Beck reported one case is in appeal and a brief is due next week.

Executive Director’s Report

·       Executive Director Erich Martens presented in a MSBA “Lunch and Learn” event on Jan. 21. He also participated in a similar event with the MASSP on Jan. 25.

·       Yielded the floor to Associate Director Jody Redman who shared information on a New AD Workshop held on Feb. 3. The event is designed to provide support, build connections, and learn tools in management, leadership and relationship building.

·       Yielded the floor to Assistant Director Amy Doherty who highlighted the recently completed Debate state tournament and previewed the One Act Play festival to be held Feb. 12-13.

·       The League is working with the Board of School Administrators to receive approval for participation in the League’s LEAD Network series of meetings to receive continuing ed credits.

·       Highlighted two experiences that were great examples of making positives out of challenging situations. At St. Charles High School, two seniors volunteered to coach the freshman team when the program was experiencing challenges from COVID-19. At Pine City, home fans were warm and supportive hosts as a visiting player from Duluth Marshall hit a basketball milestone.

·       Shared that longtime League administrative assistant Yvonne Walsh retired on Jan. 29 and saluted her 20 years of service to member schools.

·       Shared that Associate Director Lisa Lissimore has been selected the NFHS Section 5 Citation Award winner for outstanding leadership and service. Section 5 consists of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Lissimore is in her 32^nd year of service with the League.

Executive Committee Report

·       Accepted the retirement of League administrative assistant Yvonne Walsh, who completed more than 20 years of service on Jan. 29, 2021.

·       Approved the rescheduling of the next board meeting from April 1 to April 15.

·       In an Action Item, the Board of Directors approved in a roll call vote a motion for a constitutional amendment that would add two seats on the board of directors, as appointed by MASA. In approving the motion, the resolution will be sent to member schools for a vote. League Staff is directed to conduct a ballot vote on the proposed constitutional amendment. Each member school is entitled to one vote, which may be endorsed by one or both designated school representatives.  The voting shall take place between Feb. 22, 2021 through March 5, 2021.

·       Shared an update on membership dues for the 2020-21 school year and the current status of member schools. Clarified that all membership dues, including the initial membership dues and additional membership dues authorized in August 2020 are required of all member schools. The final due date for membership dues is Feb. 28, 2021.

·       Shared an update on the creation of the Finance Advisory Committee.

·       The committee approved the extension of an independent contractor agreement with Craig Perry.

·       The committee approved a waiver for additional softball games for opponents who schedule games with Rothsay High School in their first varsity season.

·       Shared an update on the development of a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

Action Items (Roll call votes were used on all Action Items because of virtual meeting protocol)

9A: Section/State Tournament Planning

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the projected section and state tournament formats as presented by League Staff. The projected section and state tournament formats must meet governmental mandates and guidelines issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. League Staff will continue to determine details of each postseason activity.

Here is a projected postseason look at each winter activity:

·       Alpine Skiing --- The event is tentatively scheduled for Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort on Wednesday, March 10. It will be a one-day event with 88 skiers per gender participating. Pods of 22 skiers will compete in four different waves. Each skier competes in two races.

·       Nordic Skiing --- Tentative host site is Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort. The one-day, two-session event is Friday, March 12. Eighty-skiers in each gender will compete.

·       Dance --- The event is tentatively scheduled for Edina High School on Friday, March 12 (Jazz) and Saturday, March 13 (High Kick). It will be a single-day event for each category with a single dance per day. Each day will start with Class AAA.

·       Boys Swimming and Diving --- This three-day event is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus beginning with diving on Thursday, March 18. No swimming preliminaries will be held, rather timed swimming finals will be held Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 with one class per day. A maximum of four sections will be competing at any one time.

·       Gymnastics --- The two-day event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at Champlin Park High School. Class A teams and individuals will compete on Day 1 and Class AA teams and individuals will compete on Day 2. There will be two sessions of four teams/sections each day. Qualifying individuals will rotate with the qualifying team from their section. For qualifying individuals that are also part of the qualifying team, their score on each event will count toward individual and team competition. 

·       Wrestling --- A three-day event scheduled for March 25-27 will be held at a venue to be determined. Each class will have its own day of competition. The state tournament format at the final venue will feature four qualifying teams that advance from team state preliminaries, held regionally, on March 13.  In the individual tournament, eight qualifiers in each weight class will advance to the final venue.

·       Hockey --- State tournaments in both girls and boys hockey are tentatively scheduled for March 26-27 and March 30 through April 3 at the Xcel Energy Center. Girls quarterfinals will be held Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27, and boys quarterfinals will be played Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30 and 31. The girls semifinals will be played April 1 followed by the boys semifinals on Friday, April 2. Four championship games, two in each gender, will be played Saturday, April 3.

·       Basketball --- Following quarterfinal play at regional sites for 32 games (16 girls, 16 boys) on March 30 and 31, semifinals and championship games are tentatively scheduled  at Target Center from April 6 through April 10. Semifinals will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 6-8, and championship games scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10.

9B: Track and Field Classification Distribution

·       The Board of Directors approved in a roll call vote the recommendation of the Track and Field Advisory Committee for a three-class distribution of the 64 highest enrollment schools (Class AAA); the next 96 (Class AA) and the remaining (Class A).

Discussion Items

                             10A: Region Assignment, Competitive Section, District Football Processes

·       League Staff shared an update and next steps on the initiation of the process for Region Assignment, Competitive Section Placement and District Football Assignment and Scheduling. League Staff also shared information on the role of the advisory committees to assist in working through the process.

10B: Dance Rules Book: Extend for One More Year

·       League Staff shared a recommendation from the Dance Advisory Committee that the Dance Rules Book be approved for one additional year. It will be an Action Item during the Board of Directors meeting on April 15.

Committee Reports

Eligibility Committee (Meeting held via virtual platform on Wednesday, Feb. 3)

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the Eligibility Committee meeting minutes as presented.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the affirmation of the Eligibility Committee’s decision on Student A.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the affirmation of the Eligibility Committee’s decision on Student B.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote a motion to grant eligibility to Student C.

Audit/Finance Committee (Meeting held via virtual platform on Wednesday, Feb. 3)

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the financial statements from November and December, 2020, and January 2021.

·       The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote a committee recommendation for ticket prices for winter state tournament events to be set accordingly: $12 at high school venues; $16 Target Center; $19 Xcel Energy Center.

Marketing and Communications Committee (Meeting held via virtual platform on Wednesday, Feb. 3)

·       League Staff shared updates on website development and a projected maintenance agreement.

·       League Staff shared an update on discussions with School Space Media on a potential agreement for streaming the state tournament events.

·       League Staff shared an update that online state tournament programs made their debut with the Debate state tournament in January. The online programs are free of charge and feature a pre- and post-tournament edition.

·       League Staff shared an update that the second radio summit of the school year, co-hosted by the League and the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, for registered radio partners, is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9.

·       League Staff shared that McDonald’s has renewed its sponsorship for an additional year.

·       The committee approved a motion to advance to the Board of Directors a proposal to partner with Hudl to be the League’s exclusive video analysis and video exchange partner. The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote that partnership with Hudl.  

Education and Leadership (Meeting held via virtual format on Tuesday, Feb. 2)

·       League Staff continues to work with the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and LEAD Liaisons to review, and receive, feedback around the effectiveness of the Post-COVID-19 Return to Sports Protocol. The SMAC met to review the current form and to discuss Bylaw 107, which states that after a serious illness, the attending physician must certify in writing the student’s readiness to return to competition. The SMAC discussed the designation of COVID-19 as a serious illness, as well as the adoption of a health questionnaire to assist school administrators and parents in returning students safely to participation following COVID-19.

·       The committee approved a motion to adopt the 3^rd iteration of the Post COVID-19 Return to Sports Protocol and advance it to the full Board of Directors for their consideration. The Board of Directors approved by roll call vote the 3^rd iteration of the Post COVID-19 Return to Sports Protocol.

·       League Staff shared that the Triple “A” Award’s event will be held on a virtual platform. More information is to come.

·       The Education Advisory Committee will meet on Feb. 12 to review the MSHSL Education Policies and formalize a plan for Continuing Education for ADs and Coaches. The MN Head Coaches Course faculty will also meet on Feb. 12 to review the course curriculum and to receive training.

·       League Staff shared updates on development opportunities for officials, the COVID-19 effect on officiating rosters and underclass officials’ registration.

Informational

·       Next board workshop: Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 2 p.m.

·       Next board meeting: Thursday, April 15, 2021, 9 a.m.

·       Meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.