MSHSL, legislators to sit down today to discuss transfer rules

02/26/2007

The House and the Senate have bills that would override the High School League's proposal to limit eligibility.


By John Millea,
Star Tribune
Last update: February 25, 2007 – 9:37 PM


Nineteen days from now, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) could finalize new rules that limit the ability of students to change schools and remain eligible for athletics and fine arts. But the ball might be taken out of the MSHSL's hands by the Legislature.

Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that, if they become law, would override the MSHSL's proposed rule change. A meeting will be held today between several House members and High School League officials, with a legislative hearing looming as a possibility.

"I know there have been a few people who have abused it, but it seems like the High School League is going at this with a hammer instead of a scalpel," said Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville. "I think kids can transfer for a variety of reasons, but if they transfer for something like academics and they can't participate in the activities, to me that's not a real choice for them."

What's proposed

The High School League proposal would impose one year of ineligibility for varsity athletics and MSHSL-sponsored fine arts activities on students who change schools without a change of residence. Currently, students can transfer once with no penalty.

The league has been formally studying the issue since August. It has held meetings with representatives from every high school in the state, an ad hoc committee recommended the change and the league's board of directors unanimously approved it on Feb. 1.

The final step will come March 16, when the 48-member High School League Representative Assembly meets to approve or reject the change.

Dave Stead, executive director of the High School League, said he hopes today's meeting will answer House members' questions.

"This is not a new issue," he said. "It's an issue that's been written about, it's been talked about. We put together a 45-member committee of folks from throughout the state; parents and administrators and athletic directors and coaches and others, to take a look at the issue of how schools want kids to compete against one another in programs offered by the schools. As an organization, this seems to make sense to our schools. So we're presenting that information to our legislative body."

The High School League is a nonprofit association that receives no state funds.

Reaction in House

One House member said the change could result in more pregnant teenagers as well as the possibility of increased gang membership and drug usage.

"We have a teen pregnancy issue in our area," said Rep. Debra Hilstrom, DFL-Brooklyn Center, who introduced the House bill. "So the very thing we're attempting to combat --getting kids busy, doing things other than just having sex -- we're going to be kept from having these kids participate.

"We are just trying to get kids involved here. We want to reduce teen pregnancy, we want to reduce involvement in gangs and drugs. We see that the crime rate goes up when children are unsupervised after school. We know that, so we want kids active."

Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, was one of the original backers of the House bill, but he had his name removed from it last week.

"I decided it really didn't fit my coaching philosophy and what we want for our student-athletes in Minnesota," said Dettmer, who is the wrestling coach at Forest Lake High School.

Another House member, who served on the league's ad hoc committee that studied the issue, said the Legislature should not be doing the High School League's job.

"Quite frankly, I support the State High School League dealing with this," said Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield. "That's what their role is, dealing with extracurricular activities in schools. I believe that the Legislature, in this particular case, is dipping into a bit of micro-management, in my opinion."

A bill introduced in the House by Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, would make transfer students ineligible for post season competition.