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Write Congress, Not KSHSAA

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity, 11/01/16, 3:15PM CDT

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Read about KS classification rulings

Kansas Legislature Has Classification Ruling, Not KSHSAA

The Kansas state football playoffs for classes 4A through 8-Man start this weekend, and the fields usually bring out the best in the playoffs with entire towns and communities traveling or following their teams on a long playoff run.

But replacing statewide talk of “Can you believe Andover Central is in the 4A title game?” or “Did you see who is in the semifinals?”, the talk around the Kansas City area, and the state for 4A is simply:

“The state needs a multiplier, like Missouri.”

“Well, this isn’t fair. KSHSAA has to do something about Bishop Miege!”

Petitions have been started to appeal to KSHSAA, the annual blogs blasting KSHSAA and Bishop Miege are copy/pasted from last year being posted.

And I totally understand, especially being a graduate of a Kansas public school which was in 4A at the time. It's a great playoff, great state tournament - at one point with 64 schools, was arguably the hardest classification to win. 

Since Miege has returned to 4A in 2014, they have crushed public schools in the football districts and playoffs by a combined score of 736-111 (an average  margin of 48+ ppg). Yes, they narrowly won the 2014 state title, 42-35 … over Hayden.

Heck, Bishop Miege coaches in various sports have told me they’d prefer to be in Class 5A, saying it would be better for the Eastern Kansas League and for the state.

Think they relish being the topic of ire, year in and year out? That fellow EKL schools don't gain as many points in the KSHSAA standings because they played a 4A school? Being the subject of petitions, online rants and calls to the state association?

This year’s playoffs shouldn’t be much different. Perhaps on a wet, sloppy Friday night, facing a strong running game and a few Stags turnovers may ... keep it close. We’ll see. But otherwise, Miege will work on another three-peat in 4A football, as it has accomplished since returning to 4A in volleyball (2013-15), girls basketball (2013-15) and strong success in other sports (2016 titles in boys basketball, girls soccer, runner-up in volleyball).

The complaints also run across the state for private schools in general. For example, since 2006, a private school has won all girls soccer championships (16 for 16) in 5A and below; boys endured a 17-of-20 run since 2005 until this year.

Volleyball, a 10-year private school title run in 5A was snapped this year; a 7-of-10 stretch was snapped in 4A-I.

Public Schools Trend of Dominance

So let’s look at this supposed utopia of public school sports. In 6A and 5A football since 1991 (50 champions), take the seven-school group of:

  • Derby
  • Hutchinson
  • Liberal
  • Blue Valley
  • Olathe North
  • Salina Central
  • Lawrence
     

They won 38 of the 50 titles in that time. Add in Salina South and that’s 9 public schools which won 80% of the 6A and 5A state titles in a 25-year period. 

The same could have been said in 3A football, with Silver Lake making 11 of 12 state title games in Class 3A (2002-14), with Conway Springs from the west in 7 of 11 title games. 

Or 6A basketball, in which a Wichita school has won 10 of the last 15 boys titles. 

Should KSHSAA have to hear that 80% of the top two football classes are won by less than you can count on two hands? That Wichita should have to have a multiplier in basketball? Put a ruling on Silver Lake and Conway Springs, and small schools outside a larger town? No one last name with Barta (11 combined state titles with father, Roger, and son, Brooks) can be a head football coach or have a limit on their staff? 

Should we put a limit on transfers? Instead of 18 weeks, should transfers within a certain radius sit out an entire year?

Classification Ruling is a Kansas Statute

Before everyone starts calling and writing KSHSAA, set your sight line on the right target – write your congressman instead.

KSHSAA can not do ONE thing about the classification status, even if they wanted to. 

It’s a state law.

A state law? Yes, a Kansas STATE LAW.

Per KSA Statute, KSA 72-130:

High school activities association; board of directors, executive board, appeal board;

articles and bylaws; reports; classification system; executive director and personnel; application of open meetings law and open records law.

 

Then scroll down to KSA 72-130 (5): 

(5): Establish a system for the classification of member high schools according to student attendance.

 

In fact, this was proposed to the Kansas state senate this past year (to the right) – and died in committee in June, 2016


Above is the proposal to the Kansas legislature in 2016, which died in committee in June, 2016.

Why did the proposed change die? Is the Kansas legislature more private school grads than public? Is there really a reason? Or just flat out there's a few more important items in Kansas and education which the state should be more concerned about?

Regardless, if it died this past year, without a major effort, it isn't happening for awhile ahead.

Final Conclusion

So back to the topic at hand, with the 4A football playoffs kicking off shortly. There's no denying Miege is plowing through many of the 4A sports currently. 

Currently, a new KSHSAA proposed structure may alleviate some of this dreaded Miege tyranny in Kansas sports. The proposal is going from 32-32-32-32 schools in 6A-5A-4AI-4AII to 36-36-48-48. If Miege enrollment held, that would bump up Bishop Miege to 5A … barely. But football will remain at 32-32-32-32.

So what really is to take of this? "Thought you went to a public school, and now making a case for the private school situation in Kansas to stay as is?"

1) Regardless of sport or class, there will be a handful of teams dominating a sport. The names can be Blue Valley, Derby, Silver Lake, or Aquinas, Miege, Hayden, Kapaun. Jump to Missouri and its Webb City, Kearney or Rockhurst, CBC. 

2) Writing and calling KSHAA is NOT the right avenue for a classification change regarding private schools.

3) Would it be good for a change and Bishop Miege out of 4A? Most definitely. But let's get the efforts steered at the right target.

 

If a change is to happen regarding Bishop Miege, then likely a great number of schools would have to:

1)      Propose a larger, louder unified voiced proposal to the Kansas legislature

2)      If it passes, then propose – and pass – a statewide proposal to the KSHSAA member schools for a multiplier for private schools.

That, if ever happens, would take another 2-3 years. Until then, Miege is the fifth largest school by enrollment in Class 4A-I, so the Stags are probably not going to move up in football. 

So instead of writing KSHSAA – write your congressman instead.