Should WIAA abide by open records law?
Should the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association abide by our state’s open records and open meetings laws?
Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, says yes. He says the WIAA sets rules that have significant impacts on public school athletes and administrators. He has co-authored legislation that would require the WIAA to comply with the records and meetings laws or ban schools from joining the organization.
WIAA officials disagree. They say the 114-year-old private, nonprofit organization does not involve a small group exercising control over member schools but rather that the member schools actually direct decisions. They point out that the wide majority of WIAA revenue comes from tournaments it organizes and that most of that money goes back to member schools for hosting events and for travel reimbursement and administration.
The Assembly Education Committee has held a public hearing and is nearing a vote that would send the legislation to the full Assembly. Rep. Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater, is among committee members who would be voting on the bill.
Should he support it? Would you?
We’ll share our thoughts in our editorial Wednesday.
Greg Peck
Feb 10, 2010 at 11:28 a.m.
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My bad and I apologize. I was responding to your post and a post by badger4life. The two names were similar enough that I confused them. I shall endeavor to be more through in the future.
However your statement that the WIAA deals with public funds is also mistaken.
Feb 10, 2010 at 10:40 a.m.
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JCK: You've obviously mistaken my comment for someone else. Nowhere have I said that "workers in the office don't have a clue...." Please make sure you take your wrath out on the right person...shheees!
Feb 10, 2010 at 10:02 a.m.
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Badgerlvr, the WIAA does not receive public funds. Not a single tax dollar. The overwhelming majority of funding for the WIAA comes from the revenue made during their tournament events. And they pay schools for the use of their facilities staging the games. Woodman's and WalMart deal with the public too. Should they be subject to open meetings laws? Your statement that "many of the workers in the office don't even a clue about some of the sports they oversee" only shows how little you know about the WIAA.
Feb 9, 2010 at 9:45 p.m.
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Also... most/all of the Board members that "don't even have a clue about some of the sports they oversee" were HS/college coaches and have an extensive history in athletics.
I would say they have a clue...
Maybe do some research first, there is background info for each available on the WIAA website.
http://www.wiaawi.org/index.php?id=157
Feb 9, 2010 at 9:41 p.m.
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badger4life-
The sport rules you reference originate from one the following: the National Federation, a committee made up of state coaches, and/or WI coaches associations for that particular sport. The WIAA Board can't simply put a rule into place just because they want to. They are an organization run by their members (i.e. AD's, coaches, etc...).
Don't blame the WIAA Board for something you don't like. There is always a reason behind the rule.
I believe most of their meetings are already open and there are press releases to the media all the time, including financial info.
I think one area of concern with going open-records is the officials rankings that coaches do, it would be difficult to get honest rankings if everyone was able to access how a coach ranked everyone.
Feb 9, 2010 at 8:59 p.m.
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I guess I don't really understand what the WIAA would be hiding, so why would they oppose this?
Feb 9, 2010 at 8:58 p.m.
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The WIAA is a joke. Read there newsletter/update articles once. Every year they make new rules or change old ones in every sport in the state. Many of the workers in the office don't even have a clue about some of the sports they oversee. Open the records to all or find a different way of governing our schools' athletics. Sooner or later our sports teams will all be privatized. Many communities are already starting to see this due to budget cuts.
Feb 9, 2010 at 5:50 p.m.
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Janesville middle schools do not pay to be members of the WIAA but follow the WIAA guidelines, They have the ability to input common sense rules in our schools for the best of our kids however, the school board cowers on changing anything.
Feb 9, 2010 at 4:58 p.m.
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BeenThereDoneThat: Sorry for the confusion; the legislation would make the WIAA conform to both the open records and open meetings laws. I've updated the blog to reflect this.
Greg Peck
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:33 p.m.
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Before I answer Greg, what issues are driving Rep. Staskunas' legislation?
Feb 9, 2010 at 2:37 p.m.
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"PRIVATE" non-profit??? The rules your child play by in school are governed by this organization - the policy your school board sets for it's coaches that carries into their union contract is affected by this organization. They are the final say in many cases. That being said, why do they not want to conform to open records laws? It makes me wonder what they are trying to hide...my parents raised me under the rule that "those have have nothing to hide, hide nothing..." Hmmmm - look forward to your opinion tomorrow!
Feb 9, 2010 at 1:55 p.m.
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Greg, pardon my ignorance, but are we talking about open records or open meetings? Or in legalese, are they one in the same? Sorry...I'm just asking because I don't know.
Feb 9, 2010 at 1:21 p.m.
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What makes the WIAA any different from anyone else? If they're dealing with the public and public funds, then the public deserves open meetings. Case closed!
Feb 9, 2010 at 12:55 p.m.
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If they set policies and make decisions that affect how public funds are spent, they should be subject to open meetings law.
Feb 9, 2010 at 12:30 p.m.
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No. I side with the WIAA on this.
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