New Law Establishes Oversight Committee for MSHSAA Appeals

One of the new laws recently signed by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe will form a board that will have oversight on some operations of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

According to a release from the Governor's Office, Senate Bill 863 establishes the Interscholastic Athletic Oversight Commission within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It will be a five-member board appointed by the Governor.

“As we talk about improving education and student outcomes, we must not overlook the role athletics and other extracurricular activities play in building leadership, teamwork, and resilience,” said Governor Kehoe in the release. “I would like to thank the members of the General Assembly for supporting our efforts to ensure that the organizations overseeing student activities operate with transparency and accountability.”

The release outlines that the Commission will primarily hear appeals involving contest procedures and student transfer eligibility. Its decisions will be final and binding on state activities associations, with the Attorney General representing the Commission in any legal challenges to its final rulings. 

In an article published Wednesday in the Branson Tri-Lakes News, Editor Jason Wert recaps another pending action filed by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway earlier this year in regards to MSHSAA. Cassville Superintendent Dr. Merlyn Johnson told State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick that he was told he could not run for an open position on the association's Board of Directors because two positions are reserved for candidates the under represented gender of the current board or an under represented ethnicity. Fitzpatrick investigated then turned his findings over to Hanaway who filed the lawsuit still pending. 

The story also features a recap of the response sent to Fitzpatrick by a MSHSAA  Attorney stating their policy, approved by the membership in 2004, is in line with constitutional principals and ensures a wide range of input into decisions that affect the diverse membership of the association.