GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted unanimously today to approve two policies that will return more than an estimated $800,000 to member schools.
New Policy 9.2.1.5 would allow the Executive Director to reduce member schools’ membership fees by up to 50% for the 2011-12 school year. This would equate to an estimated $215,000 in savings for member schools. Additionally, Policy 9.7 increases of ticket prices at the district, regional and state tournament level by $1 per ticket. That would equate to an estimated increase in $800,000 of overall revenue. Approximately $600,000 of that money will stay with the schools hosting postseason events, and approximately $200,000 of it going to the FHSAA. It is the estimated $200,000 collected by the FHSAA that is allowing the Association to reduce the membership dues listed above.
“We will continue to reduce membership dues when possible,” said Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing. “In order to do that we must obtain more long-term corporate sponsors. If we are successful in that mission, then schools in the near future might only be paying a nominal flat rate for membership. In addition, expanding from six to eight classifications in five team sports increases postseason opportunities for about one-third of our member schools in those sports. Then more schools will have the opportunity to host postseason events and collect additional revenue.”
Another major topic was the finalization and adoption of the FHSAA Concussion Action Plan. With the issue of safety of student-athletes paramount within the Association, the FHSAA has spent months attending conferences and putting together ideas for how to properly treat a student-athlete that has suffered a concussion or head injury. As important as recognizing the injury itself, those responsible for allowing the student-athlete to participate or not was also a major decision.
Dearing said, “The Board adopted a comprehensive plan that defines which appropriate health care providers can make the assessments. From game officials’ responsibilities, to who determines the hierarchy on removing a student-athlete from a contest, and to define the appropriate health care professional that can allow the student-athlete to play again after the injury, it allows for a proper decision to be made”
The Board adopted a policy for every coach and volunteer with any school athletic program to take the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) concussion course. The course is offered free of charge online to enhance education and awareness for precautions and care of concussions. The course is also available to any parent, student or school administrator that wishes to become more educated and aware of concussion-type injuries.
In other action, the Board of Directors:
* Elected Dr. Bill Johnson, Citizen At-Large representing Administrative Sections 1 and 2, as the president-elect.
* Welcomed John Gerdes, St. Petersburg Catholic High School athletic director, as the newest member of the Board of Directors after winning election for Section 3 private schools.
* Appointed Jenny Gibson-Linkh, Olympia High School principal, to the Infractions Appeals Committee. Re-appointed William Jablon, Maclay School principal, to the Infraction Appeals Committee.
* Approved the following meeting dates for the 2011-12 school year: Board of Directors, Sept. 25-26, 2011; Nov. 20-21, 2011; Jan. 29-30, 2012; Apr. 29-30, 2012; June 11-12, 2012. Sectional Appeals, Aug. 9-12, 2011; Sept. 1-2, 6-7, 2011; Oct. 4-7, 2011; Nov. 1-4, 2011; Dec. 2, 6-8, 2011; Jan. 4-6, 11, 2012; Feb. 2-3, 7-8, 2012; Mar. 1-2, 6-7, 2012; Apr. 10-13, 2012. Representative Assembly, Jan. 9-10, 2012.
* Approved the tentative budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
* Approved 31 schools (29 high schools and two middle schools) for provisional membership for the 2011-2012 school year.
* Tentatively approved three high schools for provisional membership for the 2011-12 school year provided the remaining items of new membership are successfully submitted to the FHSAA Office by June 30, 2011.
* Approved acceptance of continuing membership for schools for the 2011-2012 school year.
* Approved new and amended language in whole or in part to Policies 5, 6, 79, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 30, 35, 36, 38, 39, and 41. Policy 18.3 establishes a limit of 20 sessions for competitive cheerleading spring practice exclusively in the month of May. Policy 20.1.2 prohibits member schools from participating in full contact football summer camps sponsored by a third party organization on their own campuses.
* Approved a policy of amnesty for the schools that had been conducting club lacrosse in lieu of the recognized sport adopted by the FHSAA. Schools that choose to do so may enter the state series immediately in lacrosse with the adoption of that amnesty.