Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis: June 4, 2024

Welcome  

• Board Member Kristi Peterson provided the reflection.  
• Board Vice President Don Peschel, in place of President Jim Smokrovich, called the meeting to order at 9:47 a.m.    
• The Board of Directors approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda.  
• The Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from April 4, 2024, was approved.  
• Board Members shared comments on recent events and thanked League Staff for their hard work and guidance.  

 Lobbyist’s Report    

• League Lobbyist Roger Aronson shared updates from the recently concluded legislative session.
• Shared that the K-12 Education Bill now requires resources and information on eating disorders be included in Coaching Education.

Legal Counsel Report  

• League Counsel Kevin Beck reported on one pending case.  

Executive Director’s Report  

Executive Director Erich Martens:  

• Welcomed incoming Board of Directors members: Daren Messmore, Providence Academy (Regions 3A-4A); Matt Braaten, Cambridge-Isanti (Regions 7AA-8AA); Tavia Bachmann, Frazee (Girls Sports Representative); Zach Prax, Eastview (CTAM). New members will begin their term on July 28, 2024.
• Yielded the floor to League Staff to recognize Rochester Century High School Band Director Amanda Kaus as the recipient of the NFHS Section 5 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award. This is an annual award to one music educator representing six states.  
• The NFHS approved the requirement of neck laceration protection equipment for Hockey. The League follows NFHS rules, and the MSHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is in support of the mandate.  
• On May 7, the League’s Representative Assembly approved a bylaw amendment to remove the spring tryout period for Dance.
• The MSHSL Foundation has set its calendar for the applications and grant amounts for the 2024-2025 school year. Both grants will be open for applications in October. The Board approved the amounts of Form A at $700,000 and for Form B at $360,000.
• Yielded the floor to League Staff for updates on Spring State Tournaments that have transpired.
• Attended the Dunkers Annual Fund event hosted by the Minnesota Wild; the Minneapolis Area Athena Awards and the Officials Recruiting event hosted by the Minnesota Vikings.

Executive Committee Report    

Board Vice President Don Peschel reported:

• Reviewed information from the 9th Grade Governance Task Force including a Board of Directors Resolution and Constitutional Amendment.
• Reviewed information on the Drone Policy and Name, Image and Likeness Policy. Both are Action Items.

Action Items:

• Approved Corrective Action Plan of all teams within the Christian Athletic League.
• Approved the 2024 Prep Bowl to be played on Nov. 22-23.
• Approved the posting of a League position for a Program Specialist. The position will be posted internally.  

Action Items  

9A: 2024-2025 Board Officers    

• The Board of Directors affirmed the vote of Board Officers for the 2024-2025 school year: Don Peschel, Sauk Centre, President; Brent Schimek, Deer River, Vice President; LeRoy Fairbanks, Cass Lake, Treasurer.  

9B: Winter Advisory Proposals    

Boys and Girls Basketball:  

• The Board of Directors approved a Minnesota Rules Modification to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book on the Basket Interference rule.
• The Board of Directors approved the seeding of the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for all classes, Nos. 1-8.

Boys Hockey:

• In a roll call vote, the Board of Directors did not approve a proposal to align the activity with the same practice of classifying teams in other team sports.  

Boys and Girls Hockey:

• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to seed the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for both classes, Nos. 1-8.

Alpine Skiing:

• A motion to permit any available video to protest a disqualification was not approved by the Board of Directors.  

Nordic Skiing:  

• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to remove hats and headgear from inclusion in the uniform requirements under Rule 206.1.1 and 206.1.2 unless graphic illustrations are inappropriate.

Wrestling:

• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to increase the number of girls-only events that do not count toward the team limit of 16, from four to eight.  
• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to modify the required format used for section individual tournaments. The proposal requires sections with 10 or more teams to administer a two-day tournament.  
• A proposal seeking the addition of full wrestlebacks for the individual state tournament was not approved by the Board of Directors.  

9C: 9th Grade Governance Resolution for Membership Vote

• The Board of Directors approved a task force resolution to call for a Member School vote to amend the League’s Constitution to include 9th Grade Governance. The process will continue with information shared to Member Schools with an anticipated vote this fall. Information-sharing includes presentations at the Fall Area Meetings.
• The Board also approved a resolution to call for a vote of Member Schools to adjust outdated, editorial or archaic language within the League’s constitution. This vote would take place simultaneously with the vote on 9th Grade Governance.  

9D: Together in Partnership 3.0

• The Board of Directors approved the outlined plans of Together We Make a Difference 3.0. Four sites, including three in Greater Minnesota, will host the regional student leadership events.

9E: Drone Policy

• The Board of Directors approved amendments to the League’s Drone Policy to align with behavior expectations, the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and establishing consistency at all League activities.  

9F: Name, Image and Likeness

• The Board of Directors approved updated policy language that continues to protect the amateur status of all participants and clearly stated that NIL Collectives are not approved.  

Discussion Items  

10A: 9th Grade Governance Task Force

• League Staff shared the group has met three times. Discussion topics include bylaw learning and considering potential adjustments in certain bylaw language around the number of contests and the impact on coaching out of season.    

10B: Transfer of Enrollment Eligibility Guide  

• League Staff shared a draft of a Transfer of Enrollment Eligibility Guide that helps constituents navigate the eligibility process.

10C: 2024-2025 Preliminary Budget  

• League Staff shared an overview, including revenues, expenses, corporate sponsorships, television broadcast contract, streaming contracts and state tournament attendance. Approval of the 2024 Annual Budget will be an Action Item for the Board of Directors Meeting on July 30.

10D: 2024-2025 Membership Dues and Activity Fees  

• League Staff shared options and the potential credits that may be available for Member Schools. This will be an Action Item for the Board of Directors Meeting on July 30.  

10E: 2024-2025 Dance Team Rules Book  

• League Staff shared an update on revisions to the Dance Team Rules Book. Approval of the revisions will be an Action Item for the Board of Directors on July 30.  

Committee Reports  

11A: Eligibility Committee  

• The Transfer Portal is closed from June 1 through July 31.
• The Board of Directors approved the Eligibility Report as presented.  

11B: Audit/Finance Committee  

• The Board of Directors approved the March 2024 and April 2024 Financial Statements.  
• The Board of Directors approved the 2 State Auditors Report 2022-2023 MSHSL State Audit.
• The Board of Directors approved the accompanying Charitable Organizational Form 990.  
• The Board of Directors approved a League Staff recommendation to increase officials’ fees from $60 to $70 for the next three years.
• The Board of Directors approved the Audit/Finance Committee report as presented.

11C: Marketing and Communications Committee  

League Staff:  

• Shared an update on the work being done on the League’s Media Policy Manual for the 2024-2025 school year. That document will be presented for approval at the Board of Directors Workshop in July.  
• League Staff will present a workshop session at the NFHS Summer Meeting on Social Media engagement, including the MVT recognition program.
• Baden has agreed to a three-year agreement for volleyball and Prairie Farms Dairy has exercised a two-year extension with the League.  

11D: Education and Leadership  

• League Staff shared an update and planning, which includes contacting new SALT members and their AD’s.
• The SALT Summer Retreat is scheduled for June 16-17.
• Mental Health Module No. 4 is Building Resilience in Youth. It will be posted as an elective module on the Coach and AD Dashboards this week.  
• League Staff will meet with author Hugh McCutcheon and Rick Ringeisen of the Minnesota High School Coaches Association to discuss options and possible distribution of the book “Championship Behaviors.”  
• The League will continue to grow its resources for officials specifically through its partnership with MIBT to help produce training tapes for officials.

Informational  

• NFHS Summer Meeting: June 28-July 1, 2024 --- Boston, MA  
• New Board Member Orientation: July 9, 2024 --- League Office
• Board Workshop, July 28-29, 2024; Board Meeting, July 30, 2024 --- Ruttger’s at Bay Lake 
   

The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.