Will private high school sports have classification modifier? Kansas lawmakers to decide.

Kansas legislators are weighing a proposed three-word change to state law that would be a seismic shift for high school sports.

Student athletes at all but the biggest public schools would be the beneficiaries of the move, which would allow the Kansas State High School Activities Association to implement an enrollment modifier for private schools.

Bill Faflick, KSHSAA executive director, said the intent is to create a "more level playing field" so all teams "feel like they have a fair opportunity" to win championships.

But change would require the Republican-controlled Legislature to go against private schools at a time when GOP politics in Kansas have grown more friendly toward school choice. Private schools, especially parochial ones, across the state oppose the move.

The proposal is "unnecessary, punitive and counterproductive," said Jamie Finkeldei, associate superintendent of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita and president of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools.

The plan already has KSHSAA approval and narrowly passed the Kansas Board of Education but needs the Kansas Legislature to take action before it could be implemented.

"It's a very difficult and challenging activity to make things fair," said Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Basehor, who sponsored the legislation. "But the association has come to the conclusion what is in place right now is not necessarily fair for all."

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

The bill, HB 2003, is short, adding three words — "and other factors" — for how high school athletics are divided into classes. Currently, student enrollment count is the only factor that may be used in the classification system.

The "other factors" have been identified but wouldn't be written into the law.

The multiplier formula would use three factors: recent success in state championships, geographic location for schools in more populous areas and a socioeconomic factor tied to the number of low-income students. If a school didn't meet the "success factor" threshold, none of the multipliers would be triggered.

The modifier would have the potential to apply to 28 private schools, including Topeka’s Hayden High School and Cair Paravel Latin School. The state activities association has 335 member high schools and 404 middle schools.

A bill hearing Thursday in the House Education Committee showed lawmakers remain divided, as to schools. Rep. Adam Thomas, R-Olathe and the committee chair, said it hasn't been decided when — or if — the committee will take action on the bill.

Supporters say modifier is fairer for public schools

"Our membership has believed over the recent years that there is a competitive imbalance that rewards certain schools," Faflick said.

Jeff Hines, principal of Paola High School, said he supports private schools, evidenced by sending his three daughters to Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Paola.

"I believe in a faith-based education, but I can separate my core belief system from the competitive system that KSHSAA has," Hines said.

He said the decision has been based on data.

More:KSHSAA recommends utilization of multiplier formula for private school classification

"The most important consideration that we heard from private member schools is: Don't punish all," Hines said. "So our multiplier system specifically targets the schools that need to have a modification done to them while leaving others alone."

Of the schools that voted on the plan, more than 80% supported the classification modification, and it passed in the four smallest classifications. In 5A, the vote tied. It failed in 6A, which is where some top Catholic schools would be moved.

Chris Strathman, McPherson High girls basketball coach, contends that 6A schools oppose the multiplier because they don't want to play the top private schools either.

"There are currently zero private schools in class 6A, and they absolutely love it that way," Strathman said. "This is also, to me, one of the most solid justifications for why this proposal needs to go through. If the very largest schools in Kansas don't want private schools in their classifications, doesn't that speak volumes for the rest of us?"

Strathman said school administrators, coaches, parents and athletes "have been expected to just deal with it for far too long."

Rod Stallbaumer, head football coach of Basehor-Linwood High, said student enrollment alone puts public schools at a disadvantage.

"Any time you're comparing enrollment between a public school and a private school, it's an apples to oranges comparison," he said, based on legal obligations for public schools.

Private schools want modifier to apply to public schools, too

Testimony did include a public school administrator who supported the private school position.

Michael Church, athletic director at Wichita Heights High School, said the proposal "unnecessarily punishes student athletes at private schools."

"The families of these students are tax-paying citizens just like those in public schools," Church said. "The families of these students work just as hard as parents in public schools to provide their children with the best education and student athlete experience as they can."

He urged lawmakers to vote against the bill, contending that the multiplier "waters down the competitive sphere of interscholastic athletics."

"I come from a background that states that if you want to move up or win something, work harder than all of your competitors," he said. "However, sometimes you don't always win. This was very reflective of how life works."

Gaby White, principal of Wichita Collegiate School, said the school's "extremely successful" tennis team would cause all of the other athletic programs to move up a classification.

"They're going to be punished simply because of the school they attend," White said. "I believe we live in a country where we do nothing but celebrate success, but this proposal the way it is would state that there's a negative consequence to success."

Geoff Andrews, superintendent of the Catholic Diocese of Salina, said Sacred Heart would be in a similar situation where championships in boys golf and girls tennis would cause their already struggling football team to face even tougher competition.

"It is not a private versus public issue," said Finkeldei, of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools. "I would contend it is socioeconomic. It's an urban versus suburban issue."

He said suburban areas tend to have more athletes who also compete in club sports, which is fueling the school athletic success.

"If this factor for success was for every school, we would not necessarily be here today," Finkeldei said of opposing the KSHSAA plan. "But this is only for private schools, and we believe that's really misdiagnosing the problem."

Opponents further argue that the modifier would take opportunities away from students at larger inner city schools to benefit suburban and small town schools.

Rep. Owen Donohoe, R-Shawnee, suggested using an academic multiplier instead, based upon grade point average. He contended that it could be the Legislature's "perfect avenue" toward better college and career readiness. Faflick said he is not aware of any such model, and Donohoe said: "Kansas can be the first. There's nothing wrong with that."

Rep. Clarke Sanders, R-Salina, suggested allowing schools to voluntarily move up a classification would solve the issue.

Finkeldei said if the current bill were to fail, allowing such moves could be a solution. While he "can't guarantee it would happen," but said he anticipates one to three schools may do so.

Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka, asked Finkeldei whether the current system is fair.

"It is fair," Finkeldei replied.

"But 80% of the schools said no, we would support the multiplier, so therefore there would be a leaning of it not being fair," Haskins said. "How would you change it, to protect your students at your school, what would you add?"

"If you were going to change the system, you would include all schools that that show an element of success," Finkeldei said. "As has been pointed out, there are a number of public schools that have equal or even greater success than some of the private schools. So why look at just the private schools?"

"So if they took the word 'private' out, would the multipliers be fair?" Haskins asked.

"It would be fair," Finkeldei said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas public and private Catholic high schools debate sports modifier