No place for closed-door decisions in dealing with TSSAA classification
Cannon County athletic director Matt Rigsby stood in front of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's Board of Control last week, making his plea for the state association's governing board to move his school's basketball, baseball and softball regions.
It was denied.
Afterward, Rigsby wasn't surprised his request wasn't approved. Of the 25 appeals heard in Thursday's Board of Control meeting, 12 were approved.
What did surprise him was how the decision was made — behind closed doors in an executive session.
He should be more than surprised. He and everyone in the state should be outraged.
"I respect the board's decision, but I do not agree in the manner they made it," Rigsby said. "The reason why is I deserve to know as they are the governing body why they made that decision. Their decision-making directly affects the athletes at Cannon County High School.
"You don’t vote for Congress and not see how they make laws."
Evidently, deciding which schools are in each district and region is more top secret than passing laws and increasing taxes.
There are certain issues the TSSAA's governing body has reason to close its meeting doors for and talk in private. Lawsuits and hardship cases come to mind, for example.
Choosing which geographic region a school will compete in is nowhere on that list. It may be one of the least controversial decisions they'll ever make.
Now understand, this wasn't the TSSAA staff's request to go into executive session. They were fine with a normal vote.
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The TSSAA approved districts and regions differently this year. When districts and regions were released Nov. 11, those were official — minus any approved appeals. In the past, the TSSAA's Board of Control approved each district and region. And it did so publicly in front of a room full of coaches.
But it failed that transparency this time.
“The idea of executive session is the privacy of everything,” said TSSAA Board of Control Vice President Jerry Mathis, who is the Tullahoma athletic director. “Sometimes it’s probably not a good idea to get into it about the poor relationship a school has against another school. And you can get into a poor relationship on how those on the board voted.”
This isn't the time to show a lack of courage when making decisions that affect those who elected you. Board members are chosen to make decisions that are best for the entire state. It's not an easy job and takes an open mind.
Being on the state athletic association's governing board is not about making friends. If it is, it's time to find replacements.
Secrecy is nothing new for the Board of Control, which grew from nine to 12 this year to allow three private school members.
For example, in 2005, the Board awarded Murfreesboro the Spring Fling, an Olympic-style festival featuring all five of the state association's spring sports, via a secret ballot. Each member wrote a choice on a piece of paper.
Typically, Board members simply raise their hands when asked if they are in favor or opposed to a motion.
Raising a hand isn't hard. It just take a little courage.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager.