PA Interscholastic Athletics Oversight Council
Completes Work
Robbins Calls for Continued Oversight of the PIAA
Harrisburg – Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics
Oversight Council verified that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic
Athletic Agency (PIAA) has complied with each of the reforms required
by state law, according to State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50), a member
of the Council. However, the Senator still believes some measure of
accountability needs to be put in place to ensure that the agency
continues the reforms and remains responsive to parents and students.
In 1998, after a public outcry against abuses by the PIAA, the
Senate adopted Senate Resolution 127, which established the Special
Committee on Interscholastic Athletics. Senator Robbins was a member
of the Special Committee.
"The truth is, for years, the PIAA operated outside the realm of
state government, although it was funded primarily through public
schools and interscholastic contests," said Sen. Robbins. "Without any
real accountability mechanism, the organization was able to make
arbitrary decisions without regard to the interests of student
athletes, coaches, parents, schools, the media, and the community. The
problems with the PIAA have been documented--the lack of formal
bidding processes for contests and contracts; the lack of due process
for student athletes in regard to eligibility and transfer issues; no
accountability regarding cash payments to game managers; inadequate
state championship facilities; and retribution against member schools
who take legal action against the PIAA."
The work of the Special Committee resulted in Act 91 of 2000, which
established the Interscholastic Athletics Oversight Council. The
Council was formed to oversee thirteen specific reforms at the PIAA.
If the PIAA did not comply with each of the reforms within two years,
the Council would be tasked with reviewing alternatives for the
management of interscholastic athletics in this Commonwealth. Act 187
of 2002 extended the timeline for completion of the reforms by an
additional year.
"While the process of reform has been painfully slow to occur at
the PIAA, I am encouraged that the Council has concluded that the PIAA
has finally completed each of the reforms," said Sen. Robbins. "The
truth is, the PIAA's own obstinacy caused the delay--waiting as long
as possible to implement such commonsense reforms as basic accounting
procedures. It confounds me that as recently as last year, the PIAA
still permitted individuals involved in an athletic contest to be paid
in cash."
Sen. Robbins continued, "Having been involved in the investigation
and oversight of the PIAA since 1998, I am not overly optimistic that
the PIAA will continue to keep these new policies and procedures in
place without some level of oversight. Some of the reforms have been
implemented recently and have not stood the test of time. Whether it
be through a function of the legislature or a state agency , I believe
it is necessary to establish some permanent form of oversight
mechanism to continue to hold the PIAA accountable."
CONTACT: Nate Silcox (717) 787-1322
