NSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - May 23, 2025

[Alum-Ni]

The NSAA Board of Directors met on May 23, 2025 at the Courtyard Marriott in La Vista 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​

​

Also in attendance: Dr. Zainab Rida, Nebraska Department of Education; Bobby Truhe, NSAA Legal Counsel; Ryun Theobald, Fillmore Central Activities Director.

The Meeting was called to order at 8:00 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 April 10, 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
• Approval of the Minutes of the April 11, 2025 Representative Assembly Meeting
• Approval of the May 7, 2025 Classification Committee Meeting
• Approval of the Financial Statements
  
  
• Approval of the following new cooperative sponsorships for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years
  • Lexington and Elm Creek for Girls Golf
  • Heartland and Hampton for Volleyball, Girls Golf, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Track, Girls Track and Boys Golf
  • Rock County and Keya Paha for Girls Wrestling
  • Grand Island, Grand Island Central Catholic and Grand Island Northwest for Boys Swimming and Girls Swimming
  • McCook and Southwest for Boys Swimming and Girls Swimming
  • Humphrey and Lindsay Academy for Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball
  • Logan View and Scribner-Snyder for Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball
  • Grand Island Central Catholic and Grand Island Northwest for Girls Tennis
    
• Approval of the following cooperative sponsorships for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years:
  • Sargent and Loup County for Football, Volleyball, Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Boys Wrestling, Girls Wrestling, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Track, Girls Track, Vocal Music and Instrumental Music
    
• Approval of the dissolution of the following cooperative sponsorships for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Adams Central and Hastings for Girls Wrestling

Motion Carried: 8-0

2. Moved to ratify the proposals that passed through the NSAA Legislative Process and the Class Caucus. Motion Carried: 8-0

3. Moved to approve the 2025-2026 NSAA Calendar. Motion Carried: 8-0

4. Moved to approve the Husker Power Contract. Motion Carried: 8-0

5. Moved to approve the NSAA Classification Committee recommendations on competitive balance criteria, timelines for applications, committee members and the process for approving an application. Motion Carried: 8-0

6. The Board heard a request from Fillmore Central High School to adjust their enrollment numbers for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years due to a new NDE reporting procedure. A motion was made to approve Fillmore Central's request. Motion Carried: 8-0

7. Due to the lack of availability, the Board indefinitely suspended the newly passed proposal allowing boys and girls golf coaches the use of a golf cart during district and state golf. Motion Carried: 8-0

8. The Board heard reports from NSAA Staff and the Executive Director. Items reported discussion on three divisions of Unified Track & Field at the NSAA Track & Field Championships, a District Music Contest report and a recap of this year's NSAA Student Advisory Committee.

9. The NSAA Board of Directors retreat will take place in North Platte on June 11th.

10. The NSAA New AD/Administrative Assistant Seminars will take place on July 15 (North Platte) and July 17 (NSAA Office in Lincoln).

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:54 a.m.

The next meeting of the NSAA Board of Directors will be August 20, 2025 at the NSAA Office in Lincoln.

 

[coachlanum]

5. Moved to approve the NSAA Classification Committee recommendations on competitive balance criteria, timelines for applications, committee members and the process for approving an application. Motion Carried: 8-0

Does anyone have more info on this?

 

[TC53]

From the committee's May 7 meeting:

"
The Classification Committee met on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 via Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 1:02
p.m. by Dr. Jon Cerny, NSAA District 3 Board of Director from Bancroft-Rosalie, who chaired the meeting.
Committee members present were Dr. Luke Ford, Elkhorn North; Tracy Douglas, Hastings; Dr. Troy Unzicker,
Alliance; Dr. Andrew Dick, Scottsbluff and Jason Alexander, Beatrice; Dr. JJ Toczek, Lincoln Public Schools; Dr. Nick
Wemhoff, Fort Calhoun; Chad Zimmerman, Millard Public Schools; Jeff Squier, South Sioux City; Dr. Dana
Wiseman, Elba; Justin Anderson, Central City; Jon Davis, Alma; Craig Newcomb, Bertrand; were absent.
Ex-officio members included NSAA Staff, Jennifer Schwartz, Jeff Johnson and Jeff Stauss.

Matt Martin, Crete; Dave Hoxworth and Nate Rock, Scottsbluff; and Mitchell Stine, Norris were also in attendance.

The committee reviewed recommendations to forward to the NSAA Board of Directors regarding the
implementation of the Competitive Balance Committee including the approved ruling language to be added to
bylaw 2.13.1.2; the school profile indicators to be considered on an opt-down application; composition and length
of term for NSAA Competitive Balance Committee members; timelines for opt-down requests for football, other
fall sports, winter sports and spring sports; and the process to be used by the Competitive Balance Committee to
provide recommendations to the NSAA Board of Directors on opt-down requests.

The committee agreed that regardless of the outcome of an appeal, member schools should be given feedback on
an opt-down application.

With no further business, the committee adjourned at 2:16 p.m."

 

[TC53]

Here's the March minutes:

Recommendations included adding approved ruling language to bylaw 2.13.1.2; identifying the school profileindicators to be considered on an opt-down application; appointing current members of the group working oncompetitive balance to be on the NSAA Competitive Balance Committee; and implementing timelines foropt-down requests for football, other fall sports, winter sports and spring sports.Unzicker requested that the question of “Has your school opted down before?” be added to the application forthose seeking to opt-down in football.The committee discussed what the definition of competitive balance is – competing for state championships vs.the ability to compete against the opponents on a varsity schedule.The committee also discussed the legislative proposals that could affect classification.Dr. Cerny closed the meeting by summarizing that currently there is not a definitive answer regarding the number ofindicators a school must meet for an application to be accepted and that work still needs to be completed onthresholds for the indicators on the application.

 

[TC53]

This was the October meeting:

Martin, Stine and Hoxworth presented feedback on competitive balance they received while attending conferencemeetings across the state. They also provided the committee with a competitive balance rubric used in Minnesota,using Nebraska school data.The committee discussed specific criteria to be considered and the details and timing of implementation for theCompetitive Balance Committee – which was approved via the NSAA legislative process during the 2023-24 schoolyear.The committee considered drafting language to share with statewide media in regards to the timeline of work andresearch that is ongoing to address competitive balance in NSAA activities.

 

[TC53]

This was from last summer, July:

The committee heard a presentation from Martin, Stine and Hoxworth regarding the
Classification/Competitive Balance proposal that passed the 2024 NSAA Representative Assembly. They
shared their research, summarized their findings, and recommended a timeline for communication and
implementation. Several committee members asked questions and offered additional items for
consideration. The committee expressed their appreciation to the presenters for their leadership and
collaboration with the NSAA member schools. This information will be presented at the NSAA August 21st
Board of Directors meeting.

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

This was from last summer, July:

The committee heard a presentation from Martin, Stine and Hoxworth regarding the
Classification/Competitive Balance proposal that passed the 2024 NSAA Representative Assembly. They
shared their research, summarized their findings, and recommended a timeline for communication and
implementation. Several committee members asked questions and offered additional items for
consideration. The committee expressed their appreciation to the presenters for their leadership and
collaboration with the NSAA member schools. This information will be presented at the NSAA August 21st
Board of Directors meeting.

so are they saying that factors like free and reduce meal rate, ethnicity, poverty and movability of student population have an negative outcome of sports teams success ? and if so is this not the very same thing that has been said as a multiplier for private schools as a lack of the above student population has given them an advantage. Seems to me admitting the above rule needs added for competitive balance that you are also saying those with the lowest numbers in those areas have a competitive advantage. doesn't it ?

 

[TC53]

Honestly, I have no idea. I presented to that committee in 2016. I showed them that the most predictive numbers when looking for future success were past success and low F/R lunch numbers. It wasn't even close. I showed them that I had also looked at position in class (top of enrollment, middle, and bottom) and that was not predictive of success. They politely thanked me and did nothing. Now, states all over the nation have moved to adjust classification using such numbers. Are they ready to follow now instead of lead? I actually would be surprised if they did anything.

 

[saluno22]

Honestly, I have no idea. I presented to that committee in 2016. I showed them that the most predictive numbers when looking for future success were past success and low F/R lunch numbers. It wasn't even close. I showed them that I had also looked at position in class (top of enrollment, middle, and bottom) and that was not predictive of success. They politely thanked me and did nothing. Now, states all over the nation have moved to adjust classification using such numbers. Are they ready to follow now instead of lead? I actually would be surprised if they did anything.

I feel like someone shared a presentation and a link to a podcast episode on this board about 4-5 years ago and it sounds a lot like what you are describing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to those, and if it was your content, thanks!

 

[TC53]

It was. As you can tell, I'm a little frustrated by the process. Nebraska could have been in the lead, instead we are dragging our feet.

I feel like someone shared a presentation and a link to a podcast episode on this board about 4-5 years ago and it sounds a lot like what you are describing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to those, and if it was your content, thanks!

.

 

[MacMan92]

It was. As you can tell, I'm a little frustrated by the process. Nebraska could have been in the lead, instead we are dragging our feet.

It’s the Nebraska way.