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Minutes for HB2003 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Authorizing the Kansas state high school activities association to establish a school classification system based on student attendance and other factors.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 19, 2023
Chairman Thomas opened the hearing on HB2003. Revisor Jason Long gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 2)
Proponents (Oral)
Representative Timothy Johnson, who requested this bill be created, noted HB2003 simply codifies the decisions of both KSHSAA and KSDE regarding the classifications of schools for sports and other activities. This is a difficult and challenging process that takes place each year with the playoff games so competition will be fair. The organizations that oversee this process have spent many hours in discussion with schools, administrators, coaches and others across the state to create this new policy. He urges the Committee to pass the bill. (Attachment 3)
Bill Faflick, Executive Director, Kansas State High School Activities Association, stated this bill is the result of many years of discussions. This bill would only affect the post season activities. There are many factors other than the level of student attendance. (Attachment 4)
Rod Stallbaumer, Head Football Coach, Basehor-Linwood High noted that the public schools enrollment count when compared with private schools There are only two public schools in Kansas that have won in post season play when facing private schools. Both types of schools can be excellent, but the playing field is not level. (Attachment 5)
Jeff Hines, Principal, Paola High School, shared his experience as a life long educator, noticing this issue over many years. He also shared that the support for this change is statewide among public schools. Nationally, states that have made this change have not retreated to past policy. (Attachment 6)
Chris Strathman, Girls Basketball Coach, McPherson, advocated for all public schools as he shared statistics about the dominance of private schools over public schools in post season play. He noted that no Class 6 schools voted for this change because there are no private schools in that classification. (Attachment 7)
Greg Rosenhagen, Principal, Cheney High School, noted this change is not simply based on what is good for athletics but for all the students. He served on the KHHSSA Board of Directors and was on the Committee that drafted the Private School Multiplier and strongly asks for support, for this bill alone and not amended. (Attachment 8)
Proponents (Written Only)
Jenny Diedrich, Parent, USD 416 (Attachment 9)
Leah Stallbaumer, Student Athlete, Basehor-Linwood Middle School (Attachment 10)
Deena Horst and Ann Mah, Legislative Liaisons, KSDE (Attachment 11)
Dusty Buell, Tournament Director, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kansas Wichita Open (Attachment 12)
Chris Shields, Assistant Principal, Chanute High School (Attachment 13)
There was a period of questions and answers between the Proponents of the bill and Representatives.
Opponents (Oral)
Jamie Finkeldei, Associate Superintendent, Catholic Diocese of Wichita and the President of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools, shared that the Kansas Association of Independent of Religious Schools sees this KSHSAA attendance modifier is a punitive proposal that needlessly targets private schools. He believes the inequity of winning post season is not private/public schools rather it is that the suburban schools who have a higher economic base that win overwhelmingly. (Attachment 14)
Geoff Andrews, Superintendent, Catholic Diocese of Salina, noted this change would impact Salina's Sacred Heart High School. He described how this would negatively affect the golf team. (Attachment15)
Gaby White, Principal, Wichita Collegiate School, shared the outstanding success of the school's tennis team. This success would affect all the other teams, most of which are not successful in terms of winning. This proposal says there is a negative consequence in success. (Attachment 16)
Michael Church, Athletic Director, Wichita Heights High School, shared his history with coaching in public schools. He believes this policy will hurt children's ability to reach their full potential. (Attachment 17)
Marty Straub, Athletic Director, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, has a lifetime of education experience. He noted that we are here because of 3 schools in the Kansas City area. If they are breaking rules, then take them out of state competitions. This multiplier hurts all the other private schools. (Attachment 18)
Chris Bloomer, Principal, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School is opposed to the bill because private schools are not all the same. In his diocese all the schools operate off a stewardship program, meaning there is no tuition as it is paid by the local church community. 99% graduate as K-12 as Catholic students. There is no recruitment except with kindergarten students from the churches. He emphasized this is not a public/private issue, and there may be instances where changes need to be made, but this policy is not the way to do it. (Attachment 19)
Opponents (Written Only)
Vanessa Harshberger, Principal, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School (Attachment 20)
Tyler Bogart, Parent, Salina (Attachment 21)
Chris Yohe, Citizen, Salina (Attachment 22)
Chad Meitner, Principal, Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hays (Attachment 23)
Robert Knapp, President, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High (Attachment 24)
There was a period of questions and answers between the Opponents to the bill and the Representatives.
The Chairman closed the hearing at 3:00 p.m. and adjourned the meeting.
