BREAKING NEWS: Senator Yaw Planning To Level PIAA Playing Field

Photo Courtesy PCN

Staff Reports

From the newsletter sent out today by Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw:

Separating PIAA Sports Playoffs for Public, Private Schools

“I will be introducing legislation separating sports playoffs between traditional public schools (boundary schools) and private, parochial and charter schools (non-boundary schools). Under my legislation, boundary schools are defined as school districts which are governed by a board of school directors duly elected pursuant to the Public School Code of 1949 and the Pennsylvania Election Code.

This change addresses the competitive imbalance and unfairness which results from the ability of non-boundary schools to enroll students from anywhere in the state as well as from out of state. Boundary schools, on the other hand, are limited to students within the municipal boundaries of the school district.

While the PIAA has been aware of the inequities in its current system and undertaken some attempts to put fairness into its competition and playoffs systems, more needs to be done immediately”

As first reported by Talk Williamsport on March 21, 2018

“Who has PIAA oversight Senator Yaw explains”

In our continuing coverage of the recent controversy of a player transferring from Virginia to Pennsylvania and subsequently playing in PIAA post season games I reached out to the State Senator for Lycoming and surrounding counties, the Honorable Gene Yaw and received the following responses to my questions.

Senator Yaw:
Would you be kind enough to clarify for folks if the state government (Senate/House/Governor) has any oversight of the PIAA?

Sent on Behalf of Senator Yaw:

Todd:

The state Legislature has no direct authority over the PIAA.

However, there IS an Athletic Oversight Committee created by the Legislature in 2005 as the result of recommendations made by the previous Oversight Council, which was disbanded in 2004.

The Committee is composed of three House members and three Senators. The Committee is required to meet once a year for the purpose of reviewing the PA Interscholastic Athletic Association compliance with Act 91 of 2000, responding to issues related to the activities of the Association and to issue an annual report of its findings to the presiding officers in both the Senate and House.

Secondly, with the most recent transfer of a student from out of state to a private school in Philadelphia, who is now playing on a post-season roster having competed in another state; is there anything the state government will be doing to address this?

With regards to the transfer student, I’m not sure if this issue is being discussed before the Committee, though a legislative approach may be warranted (I’d be surprised if it hasn’t already been discussed in the past.), but I’m told the Committee is working on a non-legislative solution to boundary v. non-boundary schools and championships.

Finally, are you hearing from public schools about leaving the PIAA to form their own governing body if these types of situations continue to occur and go unchecked?

Senator Yaw has not heard from public schools about leaving the PIAA.

Thank you again for your answers to these questions of public concern throughout the Commonwealth.