Bill that would reclassify certain schools in sports has first hearing

A bill that would reclassify certain private schools and potentially move Bishop Miege out of the 4A level had its first hearing Thursday afternoon as the House Committee of Education listened to arguments from supporters and opponents. 

House Bill 2003 would allow the Kansas State High School Activities Association to “establish a school classification system based on student attendance and other factors.” The other factors include cumulative state championships, geographical location and socio-economic status. 

If the bill eventually receives approval, schools like Bishop Miege and St. James Academy would move up to 5A from the 4A level. 

While Eudora athletics was not represented at the hearing, other 4A schools showed their support for the bill. 

Many argued the bill would help even the playing field between public and private schools. 

“It’s not about us winning. It’s about doing the right thing,” Basehor-Linwood High School head football coach Rod Stallbaumer said.  

Stallbaumer said that in seven of the nine years he has coached, his team has lost to a private school in the postseason. Basehor-Linwood lost to St. James Academy in the first round of the postseason 35-6 this past season. 

“I’ve seen my teammates and peers give it their all in practice, only to be devastated in the end,” Josie Hannah, a senior student-athlete at Basehor-Linwood, said.

A private school has won the 4A football state championship every year since 2016 with Bishop Miege winning five, including this past season, and St. James Academy winning two. Eudora has lost to Bishop Miege in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. 

McPherson head girls basketball coach Chris Strathman said Bishop Miege has won 23 state championships since 1973. That is about 47% of all girls basketball state championships. Eudora lost to Bishop Miege in the state championship last season.

Other proponents of the bill argued there was support for change across the state, not just in the Kansas City metro area where Bishop Miege, St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas reside. Paola High School Principal Jeff Hines presented a map of Kansas showing where the proposal of the bill had support.

“It’s not just in one corner of the state,” he said. “There is widespread support for change. The multiplier only affects those that need change.” 

Opponents of the bill argued that all private schools need to be considered when there is discussion of the bill. 

“We are here because of three schools in the KC area,” Marty Straub, athletic director at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, said. “You know that, and I know that.” 

Some argued the bill would not keep the playing field fair for them because their schools have smaller enrollment numbers compared to schools like Bishop Miege. 

For example, Wichita Collegiate School’s Principal Gaby White said that because of the success of the school’s tennis teams and state championships they have won, the school would move up a classification. However, White said that would be unfair to the girls basketball team, which has only won two games in two seasons. 

“All sports are not equal,” White said. 

Wichita Heights High School Athletic Director Michael Church made the point that athletics reflect life and the committee needs to focus on doing what is best for the student-athlete.

“It is not our purpose to lower the bar,” Church said. “We need to push kids to reach their full potential.” 

Others said the wording of the bill was too vague and needed to be changed. 

“The use of ‘other factors’ is overly broad,” said Jamie Finkeldei, president of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools. 

Members of the House Committee of Education also asked those on each side of the issue questions about the bill and its effects. 

Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka, asked whether opponents of the bill believed Bishop Miege, St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas would voluntarily move up a classification. 

“I can’t guarantee it would happen, but there have been discussions,” Finkeldei said. 

Haskins followed up by asking Finkeldei if those three schools moved up, would that fix the problem. Finkeldei said he thought it would. 

Bishop Miege, St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas athletics were not represented at the hearing. 

However, when  KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick was asked a similar question, he said he didn’t think it was fair to put the blame on the big three private schools alone.

“There are schools that win more than others, but I’ve never seen it as a one school problem,” Faflick said. 

The House Committee of Education did not immediately take action on the bill Thursday. 

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Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].