Missouri lawmakers are considering a plan to replace Missouri High School Athletic Association’s leadership with a governor-appointed board. The bill follows the Missouri Attorney General’s investigation into the organization. The probe involves a whistleblower’s claim that he was barred from seeking an at-large board seat because he is white and male.
The complaint points to a policy reserving those seats for an under-represented gender or ethnicity.
During Thursday’s Senate Education Committee hearing, MSHSAA Executive Director Jennifer Rukstad addressed the issue.
“It is our contention, it is not discriminatory policy, and we look forward to what’s coming forward,” said Ruckstad. “It is also our understanding that a court has not ruled on this particular kind of case at this time.”
During the hearing, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, pressed Rukstad with a hypothetical question about the association’s board policy.
“What if that policy said that you could not be African American and you had to be another gender, would that be discriminatory?”, asked Brattin.
“That would happen,” said Rukstad. “Absolutely, that would happen if our board of directors had a majority African Americans at that time. And if that were the case, then we would not allow for an African American to be in the at-large position.”
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jason Bean, R-Holcomb, who said he does not envision the new board taking over MSHSAA’s day-to-day operations.
“Rather, parents, students, coaches, school districts, et cetera, et cetera, need an avenue to appeal decisions made by MSHSAA to an independent oversight board, allowing for increased integrity in athletics and other extracurricular activities,” said Bean.
A similar bill is moving through the Missouri House, sponsored by Rep. Bennie Cook, R-Houston.
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