1/19/2013 football Edit

General Assembly Bills Target SCSL

Jim Baxter

SCVarsity.com Publisher

The South Carolina High School League takes a lot of heat from critics

each year from unpopular decisions by their executive committee. But

the heat is being turned up and the SCHSL has been targeted by the

state government as three bills have been introduced to the education

committee in the SC Senate and House and, if passed, could deliver a

death sentance to the current governing body of SC High School sports.

On December 18th, three bills were pre-filed state legislators

targeting the operation of the SCHSL. All three were referred to the

education committee. Below is a summary of each bill; I've placed the

online link to these bills so you may view the entire document.

S.128 - This bill would in affect dissolve the SCHSL as an entity

and place control of the member schools' athletic programs under the

direction of the State Department of Education.

href="http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/128.htm">http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/128.htm

H.3131 - This bill would allow the state Superintendent of

Education to overturn decisions made by the SCHSL's Executive Committee

or the delegates of the SCHSL's legislative assembly.

href="http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3131.htm">http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3131.htm

H.3082 - This bill wo uld replace the organizational structure of

the SCHSL by placing the responsibility and control of interscholastic

athletics under the jurisdiction of the state Superintendent of

Education. It also replaces the SCHSL's legislative delegates and

executive committee members with an advisory board appointed by the

State Superintent of education.

href="http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3082.htm">http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3082.htm

These are drastic measures and while many people around the state would

love to see the SCHSL Executive Committee squirm, I don't see these

bills, if passed, a good thing for high school sports in South

Carolina. While I have led the pack in being critical of certain

decisions or operating procedures by the SCHSL in the past, I also

think that they do some things very well and when they do, I tell them

so.

I had a sideline conversation with Jerome Singleton at the Weekend of

Champions and we talked briefly about the Goose Creek situation that

had just ended. I felt like, while the first hearing did not follow

guidelines set forth by their own by-laws, that the ultimate decision

that was finally reached was the right decision and I told Mr.

Singelton so.

Now, I didn't just fall off of the turnip truck. I know that I am not

on any Christmas lists of anyone from the SCHSL or Executive Committee.

I also know that when the Weekend of Champions had a color analyst get

sick and they were scrambling for a replacement the day before, I was

called by someone involved in the broadcasts. I really did not want to

do it but told them I would to help them out of the jam. I had to

cancel a tailgate party with some friends and make arrangements for

coverage of the games, only to receive word the next morning that they

"had it covered." I know for a fact that when those in charge of the

broadcasts had conversations with league representatives that they were

told "no" in reference to "Jim Baxter" replacing the analyst. When the

individual who had made the call to me told a broadcast representative

of the SCHSL that I was going to fill in, the representative said, "Jim

Baxter? That's going to be a problem." I tell you this for two reasons.

One, I want the SCHSL to know that I know how they feel about me. Two,

I want YOU to know that despite the obvious distain that members of

this entity may have for me, that I still feel that these bills, if

passed, will be a bad thing for interscholastic sports in South

Carolina. In short, I support the SCHSL on this.

Do I think there is a need for changes in the way the League does

things? Absolutely. I would like to see some means other than the

current Executive Committee to oversee the judgement of rules

violations and the enforcement of the penatlies. Perhaps an outside

arbritration board of community business leaders from around the state,

as well as civic-active parents who have demonstrated strong efforts in

volunteer status in the school districts around the state. I don't know

what the solutions is, but there are enough smart people who care about

this that if we put our heads together, we could probably come up with

some pretty good ideas.

I don't necessarily know all of the good ideas. But I do know a bad one

when I see it. And putting the control of interscholastic athletics,

including your own district's athletic programs under the jurisdiction

of an entity that can't even protect our social security numbers and

banking information from computer hackers when there are ways to do it

is a bad idea.

If you agree with me, I suggest you get in touch with your district

superintendent's office and get them on the ball. They, and maybe you,

need to call the legislative representatives who are members of the

education committee, as well as your local representative. Below are

the Education Committee member of the General Assembly; to get contact

information on them visit

href="http://www.scstatehouse.gov/index.php">http://www.scstatehouse.gov/index.php

, click on either House or Senate and then click "Members" to get their

contact information.

SENATE