Amy Donaldson is an executive producer with KSL. She reports, writes and hosts “The Letter” and co-hosts “Talking Cold.” She spent 28 years as a news and sports reporter at the Deseret News.
SALT LAKE CITY — A bill seeking to shift control of high school sports from the nonprofit Utah High School Activities Association to the State Board of Education was put on hold Wednesday after a hearing in which only one person, outside of the sponsor, spoke in support of the idea.
The sponsor — Sen. Keith Grover, R-Provo — said he is hopeful that the 4-1 vote by the Senate Education Committee to hold the bill doesn't mean making a change to the way prep sports are administered is dead."I think we will have more conversation and dialogue," Grover said, noting that there was support in the Legislature for the change. "You're hearing opposition from all of the right people. Take notes on their comments. Frankly, we're looking for dialogue, but we're hearing some of these comments have been made over the years, and changes have not been made."So I'm glad all of these comments are now on the record, and we'll see how people step up to the plate, because all is not well," he said. "And like my dad always said growing up on the farm, 'Hit pigeons flutter.'"Grover's bill, SB271, would change a system that has been in place for nearly a century. Currently, high school sports are governed by a quasi-governmental nonprofit — the Utah High School Activities Association. The association comprises nearly 160 schools, public and private, and decisions are made by two governing bodies — the board of trustees and the executive committee. Schools pay membership dues of $75 per year, and, as members, have access to training, catastrophic insurance, officials, and a voice in creating and enforcing rules.But Grover said the current system is a mystery to most parents. And that can make accountability elusive."This bill is seeking to be proactive and to look for solutions," Grover said. "It's not attacking the association, just saying, 'Hey, you can do this better.'"The bill would create an Office of Interscholastic Activities that is responsible for drafting and enforcing rules for eligibility, transfers, recruiting and classification assignments. It would function as part of the State School Board, which Grover said would provide "more accountability and transparency."Under this bill, the new office would also handle rule violations and appeals and "control media communications." The proposal establishes an advisory council made up of school representatives, athletic directors, coaches, parents
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