LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES March 15, 2017 Murfreesboro, TN

  1. Roll Call
  2. Approved Minutes of Last Meeting
  3. Old Business
    1. Cooperative Programs (Article I, Section 6 of the TSSAA Bylaws) In the last Legislative Council meeting, the Council passed the following language to go into effect during the 2017-18 school year: Public and Charter Schools may form cooperative agreements with only other Public and Charter Schools. Independent Schools may form cooperative agreements with only other Independent Schools. The Council voted to change the language to read: DI schools may form cooperative agreements with only other DI schools. DII schools may form cooperative agreements with only other DII schools. Rationale: Amending the Bylaw to read as proposed would protect the majority of small schools that currently have cooperative agreements. Most have been in place for many years.
    2. Voted to deny the proposed addition to Article I, Section 6 (Cooperative Programs) of the TSSAA Bylaws that was submitted by McKenzie High School: Section 6 currently reads: Only two member schools may petition TSSAA annually for permission to have a cooperative program in any sport if one of the schools does not have that program and has not had that program for the last five years. The Executive Director of TSSAA may approve such cooperative programs subject to approval by principal of schools involved, the governing board of the schools involved, and the Board of Control. Proposed Addition: Schools that have a cooperative program will be classified in the sports in which the cooperative program exists by using the smaller number of the following calculations. 1. Combined enrollment of the two schools involved in the cooperative program. 2. Applying a multiplier of 1.8 to the larger of the two schools involved in the cooperative program.
    3. Voted to deny proposed change to the definition of “Financial Assistance Program” in the TSSAA Bylaws submitted by Columbia Academy.
    4. Voted to approve the proposed Change to Article II, Section 21 (Independent Game Participation) of the TSSAA Bylaws) Once a student's name is listed on the school eligibility report, if a student participates in an independent game in that sport after the first contest date allowed and before the season has closed or his/her name has been removed from the eligibility report at the request of the school principal, the student shall be ineligible at the varsity level as explained below. Any organized game in which players not registered with TSSAA participate – regardless of whether admission is charged - is considered as an independent game. Violation of this rule will render the student ineligible for 25% of the number of contests allowed in that sport by the sports calendar or for the remainder of the season in that sport, whichever number is the least. Violation of this rule a second time in the same sport in the same season will render the student ineligible in that sport for the remainder of the season. A student's name may be removed from the school's eligibility list upon written request of the principal prior to the first official contest date allowed in that sport without penalty. After the first official contest allowed, a student’s name may be removed from the school’s eligibility list upon written request of the principal, and he/she may then participate as an independent without penalty. If a principal requests the state office to remove a student's name after the first official contest date allowed in that sport, such student may not again be certified during the season of that sport. This rule does not apply to bowling, golf, and tennis.
    5. Athletic Coaching Links – No Action Required
  4. New Business
    1. Voted to approve proposed change to Article I, Section 2 (Membership) The annual dues for a senior high school in Division I Class A shall be $150.00, in Division I Class AA $200.00, in Division I Class AAA $250.00 and for a junior high school shall be $100.00. The annual dues for a senior high school in Division II Class A shall be $150, in Division II Class AA $200. The Legislative Council may not increase membership dues unless the increase is approved by a vote of TSSAA member schools. Membership contracts shall be submitted by May 15 August 1st for the subsequent school year. Membership dues shall be paid no later than September 1 and shall be for the school year (August 1-July 31). There shall be a five dollar ($5.00) per business day late fee charged to any school that fails to remit its membership dues by September 1.
    2. Middle School Independent Game Rule (TMSAA Article II, Section 21) Council denied to adopt the rule permanently in the Bylaws. Voted to extend the waiver of the independent game rule for one more year in all sports except football and basketball. The TMSAA Committee and staff recommend that the change to remove the independent game rule for all sports except football and basketball be made permanent.