All Kansas high school athletes deserve opportunity to compete on an even playing field

The Editorial Advisory Board
·2 min read
If approved by the Kansas Legislature, the Kansas State High School Activities Association could move several private schools — mostly in the Kansas City area — into a higher competition classification.
If approved by the Kansas Legislature, the Kansas State High School Activities Association could move several private schools — mostly in the Kansas City area — into a higher competition classification.

We know how important words are. In this case, it’s just three, but they could change the results of state high school championships for years.

The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Rafael Garcia reports the Kansas Board of Education on Wednesday narrowly voted 6-4 to advance a proposal from the Kansas High School Activities Association to allow the organization to classify high schools by enrollment “and other means.”

This change would allow KSHSAA to create a private school modifier that would adjust the competition classification for certain private schools, based on their competitive success in recent seasons, number of low-income students and geographic location.

This is a good thing. Kansas students deserve the right to fair play. It’s become apparent that some private schools have advantages that allow them to find successes their public counterparts simply can’t. This is an attempt to level the playing field. We hope this change can do that. And if not, KSHSAA, the Kansas State Board of Education and Kansas Legislature may make another fix.

Melanie Haas, a Democrat from Overland Park, said she had talked with students about the proposal ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

“When I asked them: ‘Is this about winning? Is this about playing?’, they said, ‘This is about not getting killed when you walk on the field,’” Haas said.

More: After close vote, KSHSAA private school multiplier now in hands of Kansas Legislature

Garcia reports that per KSHSAA, only about seven private schools would be initially affected by the proposed change, should the Legislature give the organization the authority to determine classification by other means.

It’s now in the hands of the Legislature.

We’d like to see legislators take action and allow KSHSAA to do its due diligence to ensure Kansas prep athletes have even playing fields.

Garcia reports a majority of athletic directors and principals from around Kansas support the move, even if they have some reservations.

Garcia also reported some state education board members were concerned that the Legislature would shut down or ignore the forwarded recommendation, although Rep. Tim Johnson, a Republican House member and coach at Basehor-Linwood High School, had previously told the board they could count on him to at least introduce and advance a bill on the proposed change.

We appreciate this and anticipate Rep. Johnson will follow through on his promise.

In the end, this is about doing what’s best for our students: public and private. We hope this breeds strong competition and quality wins.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: All Kansas high school athletes should compete on even playing field