SCHSL Legislative Assembly results
Tammie Newman, Director of Communications/Public Relations tnewman@archive.schsl.org / 803.896.0417
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 12, 2020
SCHSL Legislative Assembly results
The SCHSL Legislative Assembly was in session during the 2020 South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association spring conference this week. To continue efforts to better inform the public and display full transparency, the following are the results of the meeting:
Commissioner’s Report:
Commissioner Jerome Singleton delivered a report on the financial status of the League. As of February 29, 2020, the operating account held at Southern First Bank had a balance of $45,327.40, the Wells Fargo investment account had a total of $579,489.88, and the Morgan Stanley investment account had a total of $1,013,862.6; totaling $1,638,679.89 in reserves. These amounts provide a one-year reserve for the League. Collectively, the SC High School League is in a good financial standing.
Constitutional Amendment Proposals:
Mrs. Helen McFadden served as Parliamentarian during the Legislative Assembly.
The following proposals were presented to the delegates for their vote:
Constitution
Article V – Membership
Section 1A & B Who May Join
Currently Reads:
A.Public high schools, including public charter high schools, but excluding virtual schools, accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education whose principal or superintendent, with the approval of the governing board, agrees to conform to the rules and regulations of the South Carolina High School League shall be eligible for membership. Before being considered as a member of the South Carolina High School League, the public charter high schools must clearly define its attendance area and enrollment count for athletic eligibility, as the attendance area and enrollment count of the traditional public school in which the school is located, not to exceed one classification above its actual enrollment count, unless alternately approved by the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee. If the public charter school enrollment count is larger than the traditional public school in which the school is located or if the public charter school enrollment count is less than 200 students, the classification will be determined by its actual enrollment count.
B.South Carolina private high schools, excluding virtual schools, accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education or the South Carolina Department of Education whose principal or superintendent, with the approval of the governing board, agrees to conform to the rules and regulations of the South Carolina High School League shall be eligible for membership. Before being considered as a member of the South Carolina High School League, the private school must clearly define its attendance area and enrollment count for athletic eligibility, as the attendance area and enrollment count of the traditional public school in which the school is located, not to exceed one classification above its actual enrollment count, unless alternately approved by the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee. If the private school enrollment count is larger than the traditional public school in which the school is located or if the private school enrollment count is less than 200 students, the classification will be determined by its actual enrollment count.
Change to Read:
A. Public high schools, including public charter high schools, but excluding virtual schools, accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education whose principal or superintendent, with the approval of the governing board, agrees to conform to the rules and regulations of the South Carolina High School League shall be eligible for membership. Before being considered as a member of the South Carolina High School League, the public charter high schools must clearly define its attendance area for athletic eligibility, as the attendance area of the traditional public school in which the school is located.
B. South Carolina private high schools, excluding virtual schools, accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education or the South Carolina Department of Education whose principal or superintendent, with the approval of the governing board, agrees to conform to the rules and regulations of the South Carolina High School League shall be eligible for membership. Before being considered as a member of the South Carolina High School League, the private school must clearly define its attendance area for athletic eligibility, as the attendance area of the traditional public school in which the school is located.
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 210.83 to 3.17
Constitution
Article V – Membership
Section 2 Section A: How to Join
Currently Reads:
Application for membership shall be made in writing to the coordinator of the region in which the school wishes to compete and to appropriate classification. Before being admitted, the application must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the schools in the region and by the Classification Executive Committee. The South Carolina High School League Executive Committee must grant final approval. During periods of reclassification/realignment, application for membership shall be made in writing to the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee for consideration and possible approval.
Add:
The school must offer and field at least one female and one male League sponsored varsity sports team for the entirety of each sports season (i.e. Fall, Winter, and Spring) of the school year. A team consists of the minimum number equal to a starting line-up. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a fine not to exceed $5,000 per sport season.
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 210.87 to 3.13
Constitution
Article V Membership
Section 3 F: Classification and Membership
Currently Reads:
If a member school is an at-large member, and not assigned to a region, then that at-large member may participate against other member schools. The at-large member school may participate for a state championship if it does not require qualifying through the region.
Change to Read:
If a member school is an at-large member, and not assigned to a class or region, then that at-large member may participate against other member schools. The at-large member school may NOT participate for a state championship in any sport.
Failed
A motion to approve failed with a vote of 105.07 to 108.94
Constitution
Article V – Membership
Section 3 Classification and Membership
Currently Reads:
Section 3 Classification and Membership
A. The membership will be divided into a minimum of three (3) classifications and a maximum of six (6) determined by enrollments in grades 9-11. The reclassification process will use the 45 ADM (Grades 9-11) from each school during the fall semester of odd number realignment years. The realignment will become effective the fall semester of the following even-numbered year, for a period of two (2) years.
B. The number of classifications will be determined by the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee. In making this decision the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee will consider the number of schools to be in each of the resulting classifications and the number of regions into which these will be further divided. The schools will be divided among classifications, numerically, as evenly as possible, based on school enrollment count.
C. Representatives of the schools in each class will meet and determine the divisions that are necessary. By a vote of the Legislative Assembly, this may be delegated to a single committee representing all classifications or to a separate committee for each classification. The division of schools will be presented as a final document from the group(s) assigned to complete the task.
D. Any appeals from the classification and/or region placements will be heard by the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee, or its designee. The South Carolina High School League Executive Committee may delegate classification and/or region appeal duties to Classifications Executive Committees selected to represent the member schools of the class, which will determine the appeal as to region assignment. Member schools may appeal decisions made by the Classification Appeals Committee to the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee and Appellate Panel.
E. Conference and region organization must be perfected and reported to the Commissioner by May 1 of each year. This organization will be determined by the executive committee of the classification.
F. If a member school is an at-large member, and not assigned to a class or region, then that at-large member may participate against other member schools. The at-large member school may participate for a state championship if it does not require qualifying through the region.
Add:
G. Any member school that has the ability to deny enrollment (except for discipline) to a student that lives within their defined attendance zone shall play in a separate post-season bracket. The attendance zone is defined as the traditional public school attendance zone to which the school is connected. There shall be no exception to the separation of postseason brackets.
An amendment was proposed on the floor to add the following statement:
Any state law or proviso in conflict with section (G) of the SCHSL constitution would prevent section (G) from being enforced for the duration the state law or proviso is in effect.
The amendment passed with a vote of 146.86 to 67.15.
Failed
A motion to approve the amended proposal failed with a vote of 113.72 to 100.29
Constitution
Article VI – Administration;
Section 1 C South Carolina High School League Officers and Executive Committee
Currently Reads:
The president and vice-president shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The presidency of the League shall be rotated among the classifications within the South Carolina High School League. The presidency and vice-presidency will be two-year terms respectively.
Change to Read:
The vice-president shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The election of the vice-president of the League shall be rotated among the classifications within the South Carolina High School League. The presidency and vice-presidency will be two-year terms respectively.
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 214 to 0
Constitution
Article VII – Legislative Assembly; Section 2 D Annual Meeting
Currently Reads:
D. The Legislative Assembly, by majority vote, may edit any amendment or resolution submitted for legislative action.
1. A two-thirds majority shall be required for adoption of a proposed amendment to the Constitution and/or Bylaws and a majority shall be required for the adoption of a resolution.
Add:
If the legislative assembly passes a Constitutional Amendment or By-law change, the executive committee shall not have the power to “table” or overturn the decision.
Failed
A motion to approve failed 66.21 to 147.80
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 7 I. – Participation and Practice Limitations
Currently Reads:
- A student may participate in only one football game in any one day.
Change to Read:
A student may not participate in more than one football game in any four-day period.
Failed
A motion to approve failed 6 to 208.01
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 10 Transfers
Currently Reads:
A transfer student will be ineligible for a period of one calendar year at the new school unless he/she transfers under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N) below and only if he/she meets the following two criteria irrespective of whether he/she moves under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N). An ineligible transfer student meeting the two criteria, but not any of the circumstances of subsection (A) through (N) may compete with LIMITED ELIGIBILITY only and must have a letter of support from the principal of the school from which the athlete is eligible. The student cannot have participated in the sport in which he/she wishes to be certified during the current school year. This type of transfer of eligibility is only allowed once every (365 days) calendar year and only applicable to inter-district transfer.
Change to Read:
A transfer student will be ineligible in all sports that he/she participated at the previous school(s) for a period of one calendar year at the new school unless he/she transfers under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N) below and only if he/she meets the following two criteria irrespective of whether he/she moves under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N). The student may participate in any other sport with a written letter of support from the principal of the school in which the student is eligible.
Failed
A motion to approve failed 58.85 to 155.16
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 10 Transfers
Currently Reads:
A transfer student will be ineligible for a period of one calendar year at the new school unless he/she transfers under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N) below and only if he/she meets the following two criteria irrespective of whether he/she moves under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N). An ineligible transfer student meeting the two criteria, but not any of the circumstances of subsection (A) through (N) may compete with LIMITED ELIGIBILITY only and must have a letter of support from the principal of the school from which the athlete is eligible. The student cannot have participated in the sport in which he/she wishes to be certified during the current school year. This type of transfer of eligibility is only allowed once every (365 days) calendar year and only applicable to inter-district transfer.
Change to Read:
A transfer student will be ineligible for a period of one calendar year at the new school unless he/she transfers under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N) below and only if he/she meets the following two criteria irrespective of whether he/she moves under one of the circumstances set forth in subsections (A) through (N).
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 168.73 to 45.25
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 10 D Transfers
Currently Reads:
A student transfers to a school in the same district where he/she is currently eligible; to a school in the district where he/she is currently ineligible (as it relates to residency), or to a school in the district where the student and his/her family lives. The transfer must occur at the beginning of the student’s 9th-grade year.
Change to Read:
A student transfers to a school in the same district where he/she is currently eligible, or to a school in the district where the student and his/her family lives. The transfer must occur at the beginning of the student’s 9th-grade year.
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 153.52 to 60.49
By-laws
Article III Student Eligibility
Section 10 M Transfers
Currently Reads:
A student transfers to another school in the same district, to include member charter and private schools located in the district; other than ninth grade, provided the affected superintendents and schools’ principals approve the transfer. This type of transfer is allowed once every (365 days) calendar year and only applicable to member schools located within the district. The student cannot have participated in the sport in which he/she wishes to be certified during the current school year.
Change to Read:
A student transfers to another school in the same district other than ninth grade, provided the affected superintendents and schools’ principals approve the transfer. This type of transfer is allowed once every (365 days) calendar year and only applicable to member schools located within the district. The student cannot have participated in the sport in which he/she wishes to be certified during the current school year.
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 192.59 to 25.50
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 10 O. – Transfers
Add:
O. A student who begins his/her ninth-grade school year outside the attendance district in which the family resides will have a one-time move back to the school in the attendance zone in which the family resides. The move must occur prior to the beginning of the student’s third year (11th grade) in high school.
Failed
A motion to approve failed with a vote of 37.08 to 176.93
By-laws
Article III – Student Eligibility
Section 16 Ineligible Participants
Currently Reads:
A. AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY INTER-SCHOLASTIC COMPETITION (to included scrimmages, jamborees, tournaments and regular contests), at any level of competition whether varsity, junior varsity, junior high, middle school, “B” and any other team representing a member school. The use of an ineligible player may subject a school to suspension, probation and/or fine. Any student in the uniform of one of the competing schools and permitted in the bench area is considered as having participated in the game or scrimmage. A student that participates before fulfilling the requirements of a mandated athletic suspension is an ineligible participant.
Change to Read:
- For purposes of this section, an ineligible player is a player who is ineligible under the following sections of the bylaws and rules.
BYLAWS
Participation and Practice Limitations: Section 7, Article C
Participation and Practice Limitations: Section 7, Article F
Transfers: Section 10, Transfers
Transfers: Section 10, #2
Transfers: Section 10, Article A
Transfers: Section 10, Article C
Transfers: Section 10, Article D
Effects of School Disciplinary Actions: Section 13, Article B
Effects of School Disciplinary Actions: Section 13, Article E
Effects of School Disciplinary Actions: Section 13, Article F
Recruiting: Section 15, Article C
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Outside Competition: In Season, pg. 10
Unsportsmanlike: #1, pg. 16
Unsportsmanlike: #4 pg. 16
Unsportsmanlike: #6, pg. 16
Girls Golf: Tournament Rules C, pg. 30
Wrestling: Weight Control L, pg. 53
Wrestling AAAAA: Duals, pg. 56
Wrestling AAAA: Duals, pg. 58
Wrestling AAA: Duals, pg. 59
Boys Golf: Tournament Rules C, pg. 72
Baseball: #7, pg. 83
The remainder of section 16 remains intact with new letters as appropriate.
(A becomes B, B becomes C, etc…)
Failed
A motion to approve failed with a vote of 0 to 214
By-laws
Article VI – League Income
Section1 B. Gate Receipts
Currently Reads:
The South Carolina High School League will receive 20% of the gross gate receipts for jamborees after fifteen hundred dollars for expenses have been excluded. The League’s share from any jamboree shall not exceed five thousand dollars.
Delete
Passed
A motion to approve passed with a vote of 171.73 to 42.28
All approved amendments will take affect during the 2020-21 school year.