The NSAA Board of Directors met August 17, 2016, at the Association Office in Lincoln, Nebraska with members present as follows:
District I - Mark Norvell, Fillmore Central
District I - Wendy Henrichs, Lincoln East
District II - Dr. Bob Reznicek, Boys Town
District II - Nolan Beyer, Millard Public Schools
District III - Jay Bellar, Battle Creek
District IV - Dan Keyser, Sutherland
District V - Alan Garey, Medicine Valley
District VI - Troy Unzicker, Alliance
Also in attendance were Rick Moses, Nebraska Department of Education; Rex Schultze, NSAA Legal Counsel; Chuck Johnston, Nebraska High School Hall of Fame; Darrin Boysen, Nebraska Coaches Association; Cory Spotanski, Activities Director, Cozad High School; Jessica Lewis, parent; Mark King, Activities Director, Elkhorn High School; Dallas Murphy, parent; and Tylan Murphy, student.
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m.
1. It was moved to nominate and elect Wendy Henrichs for the position of Chairman and Nolan Beyer for the position of Vice-Chairman. Motion Carried: 7-0 (Abstention: Henrichs)
2. Moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Items on the Consent Agenda included approval of the Minutes of the May 19, 2016 Board of Directors meeting; approval of the Minutes of the May 23, 2016 Music Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the June 6, 216 Speech Advisory Committee Meeting; approval of the June 14, 2016 Journalism Advisory Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the August 2, 2016 Telephonic Hearing; approval of the minutes of the August 3, 2016 Classification Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the August 3, 2016 Public & Non-Public Committee Meeting; approval of Financial Statements; approval of new cooperative sponsorships between Lawrence-Nelson and Sandy Creek High Schools for girls golf and unified bowling; Crofton and Bloomfield High Schools for wrestling; and Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer and Pawnee City High Schools for girls golf; York and McCool Junction High Schools for wrestling; Leigh and Clarkson High Schools for wrestling; approval of cooperative sponsorship renewals for Norfolk, Lutheran High Northeast and Norfolk Catholic High Schools for boys swimming; Omaha Brownell-Talbot and Omaha Concordia High Schools for boys tennis; Omaha Roncalli and Omaha Brownell-Talbot High Schools for boys and girls cross country; Omaha Brownell-Talbot, Omaha Concordia, Omaha Mercy, and Omaha Roncalli High Schools for girls swimming; Norfolk, Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk Catholic and Wisner-Pilger High Schools for girls swimming; Columbus and Columbus Scotus High Schools for boys tennis and softball; Emerson-Hubbard, Bancroft-Rosalie, Pender and Lyons-Decatur Northeast High Schools for baseball; O'Neill and St. Mary's High Schools for boys golf; South Sioux City and Ponca High Schools for girls cross country; Omaha Duchesne and Omaha Roncalli High Schools for girls track; Emerson-Hubbard and Pender High Schools for boys and girls track; Omaha Roncalli, Omaha Concordia and Omaha Brownell-Talbot high schools for boys soccer; Omaha Roncalli and Omaha Concordia High Schools for girls golf; Norfolk, Norfolk Catholic and Lutheran High Northeast High Schools for baseball; and Boone Central, Newman Grove and St. Edward High Schools for wrestling. Motion Carried: 8-0
3. Cozad High School appeared before the Board telephonically to appeal a denied hardship waiver for Alexandra Coen. Following a presentation of evidence, those representing the student provided clarifying information and answers to the Board members' questions.
4. Elkhorn High School appeared before the Board to ask for a waiver of the four-season participation rule for Tylan Murphy. Following a presentation of evidence, those representing the student provided clarifying information and answers to the Board members' questions.
5. The Board was provided Conflict of Interest Forms to sign.
6. The Board discussed the potential legislative proposals in regard to home-school eligibility, football classification, six- and eight-man football numbers; and a success factor.
7. It was moved to endorse USA Football's "Heads-Up Football" safety considerations and program. Motion Carried: 8-0
8. It was moved to permit Omaha Gross High School to opt up to Class B in cross country. Motion Carried: 8-0
9. Moved to extend the State Journalism hosting agreement with Norfolk for one year. Motion Carried: 8-0
10. Moved to adjust salary compensation for an exempt NSAA staff person from hourly to salaried. Motion Carried: 8-0
11. Moved to allow Executive Director Dr. Jim Tenopir and Associate Director Deb Velder to sign all documents and financial statements and reports relating to operations, investments, expenditures and receipts of the Nebraska School Activities Association. Motion Carried: 8-0
12. Moved to approve the 2016 Fall Activities Manuals. Motion Carried: 8-0
13. Moved to approve the 2016-17 Board of Directors Policy Manual. Motion Carried: 8-0
14. The Board discussed the 2016-17 NSAA Budget.
15. Moved to grant provisional approval for the following RFPs for a state championships site; schools to sponsor district tournaments; and establishing eight districts for Unified Sports, Bowling. Motion Carried: 8-0
16. Dr. Tenopir reported on future dates for Board Meetings; insurance premium increases; the Omaha state tennis site; the Section 5 meeting; and the Section 7-8 meeting.
17. It was moved to enter executive session at 12:14 p.m. to discuss the negotiation of administrator contracts, receive legal advice with regard to potential litigation and related issues; and to consider appeals from Cozad and Elkhorn High Schools. Motion Carried: 8-0
18. Moved to come out of executive session at 1:23 p.m. Motion Carried: 8-0
19. In open session, the Board further addressed the hardship ruling for Alexandra Coen. The Board moved to uphold the Executive Director's ruling. Motion Carried: 8-0
20. In open session, the Board further addressed the waiver request for Tylan Murphy. The Board moved to overturn the Executive Director regarding the eligibility of Tylan Murphy to participate in NSAA activities for the 2016-17 school and activity years for the reason that the evidence presented by Elkhorn High School on behalf of Tylan, copies of the documents presented incorporated herein by this reference, establish:
21. The Board moved to extend Dr. Jim Tenopir's contract for an additional year through July 2018. Motion Carried: 8-0
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
The next meeting of the NSAA Board of Directors will be Thursday, September 15, 2016.
District I - Mark Norvell, Fillmore Central
District I - Wendy Henrichs, Lincoln East
District II - Dr. Bob Reznicek, Boys Town
District II - Nolan Beyer, Millard Public Schools
District III - Jay Bellar, Battle Creek
District IV - Dan Keyser, Sutherland
District V - Alan Garey, Medicine Valley
District VI - Troy Unzicker, Alliance
Also in attendance were Rick Moses, Nebraska Department of Education; Rex Schultze, NSAA Legal Counsel; Chuck Johnston, Nebraska High School Hall of Fame; Darrin Boysen, Nebraska Coaches Association; Cory Spotanski, Activities Director, Cozad High School; Jessica Lewis, parent; Mark King, Activities Director, Elkhorn High School; Dallas Murphy, parent; and Tylan Murphy, student.
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m.
1. It was moved to nominate and elect Wendy Henrichs for the position of Chairman and Nolan Beyer for the position of Vice-Chairman. Motion Carried: 7-0 (Abstention: Henrichs)
2. Moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Items on the Consent Agenda included approval of the Minutes of the May 19, 2016 Board of Directors meeting; approval of the Minutes of the May 23, 2016 Music Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the June 6, 216 Speech Advisory Committee Meeting; approval of the June 14, 2016 Journalism Advisory Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the August 2, 2016 Telephonic Hearing; approval of the minutes of the August 3, 2016 Classification Committee Meeting; approval of the minutes of the August 3, 2016 Public & Non-Public Committee Meeting; approval of Financial Statements; approval of new cooperative sponsorships between Lawrence-Nelson and Sandy Creek High Schools for girls golf and unified bowling; Crofton and Bloomfield High Schools for wrestling; and Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer and Pawnee City High Schools for girls golf; York and McCool Junction High Schools for wrestling; Leigh and Clarkson High Schools for wrestling; approval of cooperative sponsorship renewals for Norfolk, Lutheran High Northeast and Norfolk Catholic High Schools for boys swimming; Omaha Brownell-Talbot and Omaha Concordia High Schools for boys tennis; Omaha Roncalli and Omaha Brownell-Talbot High Schools for boys and girls cross country; Omaha Brownell-Talbot, Omaha Concordia, Omaha Mercy, and Omaha Roncalli High Schools for girls swimming; Norfolk, Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk Catholic and Wisner-Pilger High Schools for girls swimming; Columbus and Columbus Scotus High Schools for boys tennis and softball; Emerson-Hubbard, Bancroft-Rosalie, Pender and Lyons-Decatur Northeast High Schools for baseball; O'Neill and St. Mary's High Schools for boys golf; South Sioux City and Ponca High Schools for girls cross country; Omaha Duchesne and Omaha Roncalli High Schools for girls track; Emerson-Hubbard and Pender High Schools for boys and girls track; Omaha Roncalli, Omaha Concordia and Omaha Brownell-Talbot high schools for boys soccer; Omaha Roncalli and Omaha Concordia High Schools for girls golf; Norfolk, Norfolk Catholic and Lutheran High Northeast High Schools for baseball; and Boone Central, Newman Grove and St. Edward High Schools for wrestling. Motion Carried: 8-0
3. Cozad High School appeared before the Board telephonically to appeal a denied hardship waiver for Alexandra Coen. Following a presentation of evidence, those representing the student provided clarifying information and answers to the Board members' questions.
4. Elkhorn High School appeared before the Board to ask for a waiver of the four-season participation rule for Tylan Murphy. Following a presentation of evidence, those representing the student provided clarifying information and answers to the Board members' questions.
5. The Board was provided Conflict of Interest Forms to sign.
6. The Board discussed the potential legislative proposals in regard to home-school eligibility, football classification, six- and eight-man football numbers; and a success factor.
7. It was moved to endorse USA Football's "Heads-Up Football" safety considerations and program. Motion Carried: 8-0
8. It was moved to permit Omaha Gross High School to opt up to Class B in cross country. Motion Carried: 8-0
9. Moved to extend the State Journalism hosting agreement with Norfolk for one year. Motion Carried: 8-0
10. Moved to adjust salary compensation for an exempt NSAA staff person from hourly to salaried. Motion Carried: 8-0
11. Moved to allow Executive Director Dr. Jim Tenopir and Associate Director Deb Velder to sign all documents and financial statements and reports relating to operations, investments, expenditures and receipts of the Nebraska School Activities Association. Motion Carried: 8-0
12. Moved to approve the 2016 Fall Activities Manuals. Motion Carried: 8-0
13. Moved to approve the 2016-17 Board of Directors Policy Manual. Motion Carried: 8-0
14. The Board discussed the 2016-17 NSAA Budget.
15. Moved to grant provisional approval for the following RFPs for a state championships site; schools to sponsor district tournaments; and establishing eight districts for Unified Sports, Bowling. Motion Carried: 8-0
16. Dr. Tenopir reported on future dates for Board Meetings; insurance premium increases; the Omaha state tennis site; the Section 5 meeting; and the Section 7-8 meeting.
17. It was moved to enter executive session at 12:14 p.m. to discuss the negotiation of administrator contracts, receive legal advice with regard to potential litigation and related issues; and to consider appeals from Cozad and Elkhorn High Schools. Motion Carried: 8-0
18. Moved to come out of executive session at 1:23 p.m. Motion Carried: 8-0
19. In open session, the Board further addressed the hardship ruling for Alexandra Coen. The Board moved to uphold the Executive Director's ruling. Motion Carried: 8-0
20. In open session, the Board further addressed the waiver request for Tylan Murphy. The Board moved to overturn the Executive Director regarding the eligibility of Tylan Murphy to participate in NSAA activities for the 2016-17 school and activity years for the reason that the evidence presented by Elkhorn High School on behalf of Tylan, copies of the documents presented incorporated herein by this reference, establish:
a. The existence of unique circumstances that concern Tylan's educational, physical, or emotional status, and that the cause of such circumstances were beyond the control of the student and her parents or legal guardian.
b. The circumstances in Tylan's case are totally different from those that exist for the majority of students who are confronted with similar situations and choices; and,
c. The reason for the non-compliance with the rule requested to be waived is not for activity participation purposes.
Motion Carried: 5-3 (For: Henrichs, Reznicek, Beyer, Garey, Unzicker | Against: Norvell, Bellar, Keyser)b. The circumstances in Tylan's case are totally different from those that exist for the majority of students who are confronted with similar situations and choices; and,
c. The reason for the non-compliance with the rule requested to be waived is not for activity participation purposes.
21. The Board moved to extend Dr. Jim Tenopir's contract for an additional year through July 2018. Motion Carried: 8-0
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
The next meeting of the NSAA Board of Directors will be Thursday, September 15, 2016.