Proposed Legislation In Fla. Involving Private Schools Causing Stir

Orlando Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/football/broward/fl-hs-private-school-bill-0120-20120119,0,2828765.story

Companion bills introduced in the Florida Legislature would require the 91-year-old Florida High School Athletic Association to recognize the fledgling Sunshine Independent Athletic Association as a governing body for private schools and allow regular-season interleague play.

That has prompted sharp criticism from many private-school administrators, some of whom expressed fear that Senate Bill 1704 and/or House Bill 1403 would require all private schools to switch to the SIAA.

“The way I read it, the Senate bill would not even give us an option,” said Darrell Don, an elected FHSAA board member who is athletic director at First Academy in Orlando. “We have around 300 private schools in the FHSAA, and the structure we have is very healthy. We have great rivalries and relationships with private and public schools.

“We would not want to be told we have to make that switch.”

Added St. Thomas Aquinas athletic director George Smith: “We have a relationship with the FHSAA where public and private schools co-exist and it’s working well. I think this would hurt the students, the fan bases and the student-athletes in the state of Florida, I don’t see any reason for it.”

But Rex Morgan, boys basketball coach of a prominent SIAA member, Jacksonville Arlington Country Day, said private schools will have a choice, not a mandate.

“My understanding is, it’s purely voluntary, and I’ve been over the bill about 10 times,” Morgan said. “A school that belongs to the FHSAA would not have to join the SIAA or play games against us.

“I can understand if somebody doesn’t want to play Arlington County Day in basketball, but they may want to play us in volleyball. I don’t see the downside.”

Emails left Wednesday for the sponsors of the bills, Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville) on the Senate side and Rep. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), were not returned as of Thursday afternoon.

The Senate bill calls for annual championship competition matching FHSAA champions against SIAA champions in all sports. The House version has many of the same key points, including provisions that would allow private-school students to participate on teams at a public school.

Both prohibit the FHSAA from denying or discouraging regular-season competition between its 700-plus member schools and SIAA teams.

The FHSAA’s board of directors last year turned down an SIAA request for interleague play.

The SIAA, which has 11 schools, was created in 2008, with West Oaks of Orlando leading the formation after it was found guilty of FHSAA rules violations and fined $26,500. At least three other SIAA members — ACD, Jacksonville Potter’s House and The Rock of Gainesville — also were sanctioned by the FHSAA before departing.

Some athletic directors expressed concern about potentially having to compete against those programs.

“The FHSAA’s rules right now fit into our [school’s] philosophical mission,” said Pine Crest AD Jim Foster. “Is this conference going to make up its own rules? Will it be anything goes? If we’re going to be up against the Arlington County Days, we don’t have a chance.”

Deltona Trinity Christian athletic director Brian Soukup has stated his preference for formation of a separate private school league within the FHSAA.

“Sometimes as a private school, you feel like you get shorthanded, but I don’t think this is the change we’re looking for,” Soukup said. “Every rule the FHSAA has, I agree with 100 percent. There’s a reason those other schools went to that league [SIAA].

“We have no business in a league with those guys. We’re not going to be able to play with them.”

Lake Mary Prep boys basketball coach Matt Benefiel sent a batch email Thursday, asking the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches to oppose the legislation.

“If it passes, it will take all the risk and accountability out of cheating,” Benefiel stated. “Under the proposed legislation, if an FHSAA member school is caught violating rules, the school can simply drop out of the FHSAA, avoid all sanctions and still be allowed to play against FHSAA member schools. All of the rules, policies and bylaws will have no real teeth or meaning.

“The source of the legislation are schools that have been sanctioned by the FHSAA. If the schools want to play by different rules and convert the school athletic calendar into an extended AAU season, then they should stick to playing like schools.”

Rick Staudt, who scouts Florida basketball prospects for SourceHoops and Hoop Scoop, understands the reluctance and would not favor forcing FHSAA schools to compete against SIAA teams. But he sees benefits to premier interleague matchups.

“If I can get an ACD against a Pompano Beach Ely [FHSAA] or a Montverde [FHSAA] vs. a Brandon Faith Baptist [SIAA], fans are going to flock to those types of games,” Staudt said. “I think the FHSAA can find a business model where this could benefit them financially.”

Staff writer Christy Cabrera Chirinos contributed to this report. [email protected]