NSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - February 19, 2025

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The NSAA Board of Directors met on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha with the following members present:

District I - Kara Graham, Lincoln Southeast​

District I - Dade McDonald, McCool Junction​

District II - Dr. Nick Wemhoff, Fort Calhoun​

District II - Thomas Lee, Omaha Westview​

District III - Dr. Jon Cerny, Bancroft-Rosalie​

District IV - Darren Tobey, Broken Bow​

District V - Robert Drews, Arapahoe​

District VI - Dr. Troy Unzicker, Alliance​

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Also in attendance were Dr. Zainab Rida, Nebraska Department of Education Liaison; and Bobby Truhe, NSAA Legal Counsel.

The meeting was called to order at 8:54 a.m.

1. It was moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Items on the Consent Agenda included:

• approval of the meeting Agenda as presented
• approval of the Minutes of the January 23, 2025 NSAA Board of Directors meeting
• approval of the February 12, 2025 Class Caucus Review Committee meeting
• approval of the Financial Statements

Motion Carried: 8-0

2. Moved to approve the Spring Activities Manuals, including Journalism, Baseball, Soccer, Track & Field, and Unified Sports Track & Field. Motion Carried: 8-0

3. Moved to allow Creighton Prep High School to opt up in Journalism for the 2024-25 school year. Motion Carried: 8-0

4. Moved to change the 2026 NSAA State Speech Championships dates to Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at two sites. Motion Carried: 8-0

5. The Board discussed the NFHS Summer Meeting, to be held in Chicago in late June/early July.

6. NSAA Staff Reports included the following informational items:

• The NSAA Staff and Board discussed mandatory stats and score reporting for the 2025-26 school year.
  
  
• A procedure for officials to address the use of derogatory language by players and coaches was discussed.
  
  
• "Above and Beyond," a new awards program designed to recognize individuals who make an impact in their community was presented to the Board. Recognition of these individuals will begin in early April.
  
  
• The 2023-24 Gretna Boys Basketball team was selected as the NSAA's nominee for the National Federation of State High School Association's Spirit of Sport Award.
  
  
• The NSAA State Play Production Championships will continue to be held at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk through 2029
  
  
• Student Advisory Committee applications are currently open on the NSAA website
  
  
• The NSAA Board of Directors Summer Retreat will be held in North Platte on June 11th.

7. Moved to enter closed session at 9:43 a.m. to discuss legal updates on gender participation. Motion Carried: 8-0

8. It was moved to exit closed session at 10:58 a.m.

9. Moved to adopt a resolution pertaining to gender participation. Motion Carried: 8-0

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

The next meeting of the NSAA Board of Directors will be March 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the NSAA Office in Lincoln

 

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The NSAA's approved resolution on gender participation is below:

NSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION​

WHEREAS, on February 5, 2025, Presidential Executive Order "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" was signed. It prohibits transgender males from participating in sports designated for females;

WHEREAS, the Executive Order references enforcement actions against state activity associations and member schools, with member schools being recipients of federal funds who could face action to rescind that funding;

WHEREAS, the Executive Order also calls for development of regulations and resolving ongoing litigation consistent with the Order;

WHEREAS, the Unicameral is also considering LB 89, the "Stand With Women Act" which would prohibit all transgender participation and limit activity participation to male and female sports based on male and female designation, based on biological reproductive function and not gender identity; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NSAA will comply with state and federal law, but until more clarity emerges under state and federal law, the NSAA Board of Directors takes the following actions which temporarily modify its gender participation policy until further notice:

1. The NSAA is in compliance with state and federal law and the Executive Order, and we will continue to follow state and federal law.

2. The NSAA will handle all new applications for transgender participation consistent with the Executive Order and state and federal law.

3. Females may continue to participate on male teams when there is no female sport or comparable sport or team offered in that sport by the member school, which has been the law in Nebraska for decades.

Approved by the NSAA Board of Directors on February 19, 2025.