07/23/13 – New Track/XC Alignment Approved; Football Draft Alignments; Tackett Receives New 4-Year Contract

July 23, 2013 2013-2014 News Releases

New Track/XC Alignment Approved; Football Draft Alignments To Begin; Commissioner Receives Extremely Favorable Evaluation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 23, 2013

The Board of Control conducted its July meeting on Monday at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. Among the various topics addressed was the finalizing of a new alignment for Track and Field/Cross Country for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

Following months of review, a survey of the member schools, and consideration of all of the suggested amendments, the Board of Control adopted a revised alignment for Track & Field/Cross Country to take effect for postseason competition in the fall of 2013. Originally, a draft alignment was developed which would have minimized differences in enrollment between the largest and smallest schools in Class 1A and Class 3A. However, the feedback from the membership was more favorable to the current system of dividing the schools, as the draft would have resulted in extremely large regions in Class 2A or additional regions.

Following consideration, the Board left the dividing line between Class 1A and 2A at 610 students (as with the old alignment), and raised the line slightly between Class 2A and 3A to 1050 (from the current 1025). After those dividing lines were established, the schools that required new placements were adjusted, and a handful of geographic adjustments were made to help with travel situations and in the case of 3A, to relieve overcrowding in Region 7.

“Alignments, particularly in Track/Cross Country and Football that also divide schools into classes, are never easy projects,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The input received from the member schools was invaluable in helping us work with our Board on a plan that while not pleasing everyone, represents the best interests of the collective membership.”

Track and Field has the highest participation numbers of any individual sport sanctioned by the KHSAA with nearly 12,000 competitors, and is the third highest in all sports in terms of participation behind football and basketball. Cross Country has the second highest participation numbers among the individual sports with nearly 5,800 participants during 2012-2013.

The new track alignment can be found at the following link:
http://khsaa.org/72213-approved-alignment-of-cross-country-and-track-2013-2014-and-beyond/

In other Board action taken Monday:

?The Board of Control approved a measure to move the KHSAA Track & Field State Meet to Memorial Day weekend for 2014 and 2015. For the upcoming 2013-14 year, the move allows the KHSAA to avoid shortening the competitive season one week to stay in compliance with the corresponding dates calendar, while also avoiding a scheduling conflict with a majority of its officials between KHSAA regionals and the SEC Outdoor Meet (May 8-10). The 2014 KHSAA State Meet will be held May 23-24, with the 2A meet taking place on Friday, and the 1A and 3A championships on Saturday. The Board authorized the Commissioner to finalize the State Meet site for 2014 and 2015 in the coming weeks.

?The Board approved the dates for the 2014 KHSAA Archery Championships, which will take place March 17-18 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. Archery is in its second year as a KHSAA-sponsored sport-activity.

?The Board granted the KHSAA permission to join the newly formed NFHS Network, pending an agreement being reached with the Network rights holders. The NFHS has partnered with PlayOn! Sports to create an all-digital network devoted to the coverage of high school athletic content through the Federation’s state association members. The subscription-based digital service will provide comprehensive coverage of boys’ and girls’ sports and activities across the country.

?The Board reviewed the Financial Aid Report following a Tuition and Financial Assistance Survey that was given to the membership with data collected from all member schools, regardless of type. The data is collected as part of the KHSAA Financial Aid rule as a means of determining areas of concern and/or needed research.

? The Board gave final approval to the KHSAA’s $4.2 million dollar working budget for the 2013-14 academic year and approved preliminary reports on the status of the 2012-2013 school year.

Football Drafting of Alignment To Begin For 2015-18 Seasons

During Monday’s meeting at NKU, the Board of Control directed KHSAA staff to begin work during the 2013-14 school year to prepare draft alignments for the 2015-18 playing seasons based on the current parameters for football championships. In a 2013 survey of the membership, 56.2 percent of the participating schools (118/210) voted in favor of the current four-team playoff format.

“We have given the member schools two distinct opportunities in the past three years to tell the Board if they wanted our system changed. Everyone who is a fan of the sport has a thought about playoffs, but our membership needs to drive these decisions,” said Tackett. “Clearly in this case, 56% wanted our existing system of four teams advancing to the playoffs and no more than 25% favored either two or three teams advancing. We will take a special look at Class 1A as we continue, where responses were different, and certainly are not bound to use the same system in all classes if that’s the membership wishes.”

Details regarding the survey and its results can be found at http://khsaa.org/72313-football-playoff-survey-released-board-approves-results/

Tackett Receives New 4-Year Contract From Board of Control

The Board of Control completed the formal evaluation process for Commissioner Julian Tackett during its July 22 meeting, in accordance with 702 KAR 7:065. The evaluation was an extremely positive review, and the Board awarded him a new four-year contract. Tackett became the seventh Commissioner of the KHSAA on June 1, 2010, and begins his 30th year serving the Association in 2013-14.

“The Board of Control is extremely satisfied at this time with the leadership being provided by our Commissioner and value his leadership and work ethic during this critical time for our schools as we not only expand offerings, but carefully consider the tremendous importance that school-based athletics plays in the development of college and career ready graduates,” said Board of Control President Bill Beasley. “Certainly, a multi-tiered instrument with 666 responses from the 18 board members, in which the Commissioner received 98% of marks being ether good or excellent, is a strong indication of our approval of his outstanding efforts.

“I greatly appreciate and value the insight and input of our Board of Control, and recognize the tough decisions they have to make,” added Tackett. “I value the faith they have placed in both me and the tremendous staff of the Association as we move forward.”

— KHSAA —

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 280 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions 40 state championships in 12 sports and 4 sport activities, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its more than 70,000 member school student-athletes, as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.