1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting

3. Drawing for Regional and State Volleyball Tournaments

4. Financial Report of the 1997-98 Girls’ and Boys’ State Basketball Tournament Series

Supplement #1 contains the financial report of the 1997-98 season and the financial report of the 1996-97 season so that all Board members can see the comparison. A complete review will be provided by the staff.

5. Financial Report of the 1997-98 Wrestling Tournament Series

Supplement #2 contains the financial report of the 1997-98 wrestling tournament series and the financial report of the 1996-97 season so that all Board members can see the comparison. A complete review will be provided by the staff.

6. Report of the 1998 Athletic Directors Conference

The eighth annual Athletic Directors Conference was held on April 7-9, 1998 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Supplement #3 contains the Financial Report of the Athletic Directors Conference. A full report of the Conference will be given by the staff.

The Conference is another service sponsored by TSSAA for administrators of member schools. The program for the Conference is planned each year by a committee from the Tennessee High School Athletic Administrators Association in conjunction with our staff. Mr. Gene Menees and Mrs. Trina Melton of our staff are responsible for the administration of the Athletic Directors Conference. This year’s Conference was again a tremendous success and has become an annual event that many of our athletic directors look forward to each year.

7. Cheerleading Coaches Conference

The third annual Cheerleading Coaches Conference was held on April 8-9, 1998 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville in conjunction with the Athletic Directors Conference. Supplement #4 contains the financial report. The Cheerleading Coaches Conference was a tremendous success. A full report will be given by the staff.

8. Changes in Officials Fees

Supplement #5 contains the current schedule for officials fees in all sports. It is the policy of the Board of Control to review all fees for officials in all sports at the June meeting and make any changes at that time so that all schools may be informed of the fee schedule for officials prior to the beginning of the 1998-99 school year. The proposal will be presented by the TSSAA staff.

9. Sportsmanship – Review of 1997-98 School Year

The Board of Control, at its June 1991 meeting, developed policies beginning with the 1991-92 school year regarding the area of sportsmanship. We have continued to approach this critical area from many different aspects since that time. Each year at the June meeting a full report is given by the staff regarding the number of coaches ejected, disciplinary action, sportsmanship incidents investigated, etc. This allows us to review our approach to this very vital area in all of our sports. In addition, we will review the third year of the A. F. Bridges program and responses from the membership concerning this year and, also, the TOPS program which was instituted last year. The Board of Control will need to discuss where we are at the present time in this very critical phase of our program.

As we review this past year, it is very critical that we look not only at where we are at the present time, but where we are headed in this important phase of our program. It has been a year in which indications from schools show that we are having more and more problems with fans than ever before. We have had more incidents with fans being ejected from games. Many school people have indicated that the problem stems from the fact that most of the students and parents are now entering high school after five or six years of little league, junior pro, travel soccer, AAU, etc., and the mentality we are seeing with parents as their sons and daughters enter high school is very scary. Mr. E. L. Hutton, one of our top supervisors of officials, will speak to the Board regarding his observations of this area in terms of basketball at both the high school and college level. As we review the year, we also need to look at where we are in the journey of citizenship and sportsmanship and the direction that we now need to move.

Any recommendations for the 1998-99 school year should be determined at this time by the Board of Control.

10. Change in Tournament Format in Division II

There are three changes that have been discussed by Division II schools in regard to change in the tournament formats from the calendar that was passed by the Board of Control at its March meeting. The changes are as follows:

A. Golf – The proposal is to change the State Golf Tournament for Division II from October 5-6, 1998 to October 20-21, 1998. This change is recommended by the staff because it will place the golf tournaments so that we will not have two tournaments in any one particular week. The A-AA tournament will be on October 7-8, the AAA will be on October 13-14, and the Division II tournament will be on October 20-21. This is recommended by the Division II schools and will also greatly assist the staff.

B. Basketball – The proposal that has been discussed is to take the eight teams in both the girls and boys division in Division II and play a sectional round on Friday and Saturday at the same time Division I schools will be playing their sectional tournaments. This will take the Division II teams from eight in both the girls and boys division to four. The four teams in Division II would then come to both the girls tournament and boys tournament and play their semifinals on Friday and their finals on Saturday. This will place all four of our classifications together in the girls tournament and in the boys tournament and should also be a sounder decision from a financial standpoint. This is also being recommended by the staff. Supplement #6 contains the proposed change in the State Basketball Tournament format.

C. Wrestling – The proposal from Division II schools in wrestling is to follow the same format as we did in 1997-98 which would have Division II schools holding their dual meet tournament on the first weekend in February and their individual state tournament on the second weekend in February. This would separate the two State Wrestling Tournaments so that Division II individual finals would be held on the second weekend in February and the Division I State Wrestling Tournament would be held on the third weekend in February.

11. Report of the Finance Committee

The Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday night to review recommendations for salary proposals for all staff members to be presented to the Board at the June meeting. This item was on the March agenda, but was tabled until the June meeting so that the Board would have a better feel of the financial status of the association at the conclusion of the school year. Following the Finance Committee’s meeting on Tuesday night, a recommendation will be presented to the Board at the meeting on Wednesday or on Thursday morning.

12. Budget for 1998-99

Supplement #7 contains the suggested budget for the 1998-99 school year with comparisons to 1997-98. In August, the Board will be presented the audit and revised budget, if necessary, as a result of the audit.

13. Report of the State Wrestling Coaches Association

Supplement #8 contains the recommendation of the State Wrestling Coaches Association proposal submitted by Bradley Central High School.

14. Report of the State Track Committee

The State Track Committee met on Wednesday, May 27, at the TSSAA building in Hermitage. Supplement #9 contains recommendations which will be presented by the staff.

15. Site of the 2001 Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments

Last year the Board of Control determined the site of the Girls and Boys Basketball Tournaments through 2000. Both tournaments will be held at MTSU in Murfreesboro. Mr. Bob Baldridge of the TSSAA staff will go over the sites which have been sent bid opportunities and responses we have had from each of these sites.

16. Classification Process for 1999-2000

As all Board of Control members are aware, we will go through the classification process in the fall of 1998 for the 1999-2000. Items that could be discussed at the June Board meeting are as follows:

A. Setting the dates for schools to notify TSSAA regarding Division I/Division II

B. Discussion of the enrollment process by Bob Baldridge and James Swain

C. Discussion of whether to remain in a two-year classification plan or go to a four-year plan where only schools with substantial changes in enrollment (percentage basis to be determined by the Board) would be moved after the first two years

D. Setting the calendar for all phases of the classification process, etc.

17. Sports Information Director Meetings

The state office will be holding meetings in the month of August for sports information directors at all member schools. Mr. Larry Taft of the TSSAA staff will go over the purpose of these meetings and the agenda that will be followed in each of them.

18. Review of Media Page in TSSAA Handbook

As each year goes by, questions continue to be raised in regard to different media policies. Mr. Larry Taft of the TSSAA staff will review this phase of the handbook with recommendations for possible changes.

19. SBEC Applies for Membership

Supplement #10 contains a letter from Southern Baptist Education Center in Memphis applying for membership in TSSAA. As members of the Board of Control are aware, SBEC was formerly a TSSAA member school for many years and had to withdraw due to the fact that their school relocated just across the Tennessee-Mississippi state line. The Legislative Council made a change in the TSSAA Bylaws at the March meeting which permits SBEC to apply for membership.

The bylaws state that a school that has withdrawn from membership and reapplies for membership must come in the first year as an affiliate member which means that they cannot participate in the tournament series. The staff is recommending that, if SBEC is approved for membership, this be waived since the circumstances involving their leaving TSSAA were unique and there was a strong effort on their part made to the Board at that time to remain in membership with TSSAA. Further information will be provided by the staff.

20. Report of Home School Study Committee

The Home School Study Committee, composed of Mr. Lynn Brown, Mr. Billy Joe Evans, Dr. Ernestine McWherter, Mr. James Swain, and Mr. Gary Nixon, met at the TSSAA building with Mr. Bob Baldridge of the staff on April 27, 1998. Supplement #11 contains a copy of the minutes of this meeting.

21. Hall of Fame

As all Board of Control members are aware, the TSSAA Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame luncheon continue to be a major part of our association. The Board of Control, at the 1997 June meeting, requested the staff to look at possibilities for further recognition of TSSAA Hall of Fame members. In regard to the Hall of Fame, there are three items that need to be discussed by the Board at this meeting:

A. Review of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee process and the possibility of a committee to recognize people prior to a certain date, such as 1960, and also people in the Tennessee High School Athletic Association and the Bluff City Coaches and Officials Association. At the present time, it is very difficult for someone prior to 1960 or 1965 to get into the Hall of Fame, even with very impressive credentials. Most of the people on the Selection Committee tend to recognize accomplishments and names of more recent coaches, officials, and administrators. A possibility would be for a committee to seek candidates from this particular era and also recognize these each year as part of the induction into the Hall of Fame.

B. Movement from a luncheon at the TSSAA Boys Basketball Tournament to a dinner. Much of this discussion will be determined by the setting of the basketball schedule for 1998-99. If all four championships are played on Saturday, then it becomes very difficult to hold the luncheon on that particular date. It is the opinion of the staff that this event has now become a major event each year for the people involved and can now stand on its own. We have excellent attendance at the Athletic Directors Conference and the Cheerleading Coaches Conference and this would allow opportunity not only to recognize the people and serve as a dinner at this particular time, but also would allow athletic directors and cheerleading coaches to be involved in this event.

22. North Greene High School Requests Jamboree One Week Early

Supplement #12 contains a letter from North Greene High School requesting permission to play a jamboree two weeks prior to the first date in football since they are playing on zero date one week prior to the opening of the season. As Board members are aware, schools are requesting to play early in order to get 10 games in their schedules. In this case, this is one week prior to the date normally set for jamborees in the state.

23. F. C. Boyd, Sr. Christian School Applies for Membership in TSSAA

Supplement #13 contains letters from C. N. Womack requesting permission for F. C. Boyd, Sr. Christian School to become a member in the TSSAA, effective with the 1998-99 school year.

24. Cheatham County High School Requests an Appeal of the Executive Director’s Decision

Cheatham County High School was penalized for violation of the Recruiting Rule. Supplement #14 contains the letters outlining the disciplinary action against Cheatham County High School and letters from Don Beshears, Principal. The appeal concerns the situation involving the eligibility of Brien Vickers.

25. Official Appeals the Decision of the Executive Director Regarding Suspension

Mr. Shawn Berquist, a volleyball official, is appealing disciplinary action as an official of TSSAA. Supplement #15 contains the letters from TSSAA to Mr. Berquist regarding this action.

26. Review of Financial Aid Information

The Division II Committee is requesting financial aid information from schools in Division II so that all of the situations can be monitored and information gathered. Bernard Childress will make a report regarding this information.

27. Review of The Right Team Program

Mr. Stephen Bargatze and Ms. Courtney Poole will present a review of The Right Program and all services provided to schools through this program.

28. Identifying the Service Quality of TSSAA

Ms. Courtney Poole did a special project for her Masters at the University of Memphis. The special project related to "Identifying the Service Quality of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association." It is very informative and provides information that will be helpful to the TSSAA staff and Board of Control. Courtney Poole will provide information to the Board concerning this project.

29. Litigation Update

Mr. Ronnie Carter will give an update of litigation involving TSSAA.

30. Recommendations of District and Regional Coordinators

As the Board is aware, we began a program during the 1997-98 school year where we have district and regional coordinators throughout the state. Supplement #16 contains a list of the district and regional coordinators in the different classifications. As is apparent, it is an outstanding group of 35 representatives from across our state. All of them are athletic directors with great experience and background. In addition, you will see many active coaches in different sports who also served as athletic directors at their local schools. It is a who’s who of our leaders in both coaching and administration across our state.

The major purpose of this group is to provide direction and leadership in the sports other than football, basketball, baseball, and softball. In addition, we are also finding that they are able to provide leadership in many different areas. It is a group that provides a great sounding board for discussion and also input both to the staff and to the Board. At the meeting in April, the committee discussed at great length ways to increase attendance at football playoff games. The committee is making the following recommendations to the Board of Control for its consideration:

A. Allow the host school to sell reserved seat tickets on the home side to people from the host school who have purchased season tickets for all regular-season contests. This would apply to schools where there is seating on both sides with a section of the home side sold to season ticket holders. The tickets would be sold for the same price as the regular general admission ticket and would be sold through Wednesday or Thursday prior to the game. It would be the responsibility of the game administration to administer the reserved seat section and make certain that there is some means of identifying season ticket holders.

Many of the schools are finding that a great number of regular season ticket holders are not attending the early rounds of the playoff games because they are used to having preferred seating, arriving at the last minute, etc. This would be no extra cost to any of the schools involved and could possibly provide more revenue to schools and TSSAA.

B. Sell a pre-sale ticket through Wednesday or Thursday that would be $2.00 less than the general admission ticket. This would mean that anyone could buy a pre-sale ticket for $4.00 for a football playoff game as long as it was bought through Wednesday or Thursday. It would be necessary that tickets be sent to the visiting schools also since this should be an option for both schools. Again, the purpose would be to increase attendance and generate additional revenue for the schools and TSSAA.

C. The group also discussed the benefits of playing half of the games on Thursday night and half of the games on Friday night in the first two rounds. No recommendation was made to the Board, but there was a general discussion that all of us should be doing everything we can to increase attendance for these games. There was a general feeling that the concept of half of the games on Thursday and half of the games on Friday would be a positive move, provide more media coverage, etc.

32. Awards Proposal for Three-year Contract

Supplement #17 contains the proposal for a three-year contract with A & M Products for 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001. The staff will review all phases of the awards program and present options to the Board. The two major items that differ with Tennessee and other states in their approach to awards are that we give plaques to all coaches for the winning and runner-up team in state championships and that we give plaques to all officials who work a state championship event. With the addition of Division II and the increase of tournaments from 43 to 70, this has obviously created another major increase in the awards program.

The Board needs to take action regarding the renewal of the three-year contract with A & M Products and also make any changes in our awards program for the next three years at this time.

33. Proposals from Division II Committee

The schools in Division II have communicated to the Division II Committee which is composed of Barbara Daush, St. Agnes Academy; Eddie Krenson, Father Ryan High School; Bill Wade, St. Andrews-Sewanee; Randy Tucker, Girls Preparatory School; and Ellis Haguewood, Memphis University School. As a result of the communication from Division II schools to the committee, the committee is making the following recommendations to the Board for consideration in changes in tournament format:

A. Golf – Change the dates for the State Golf Tournament in Division II from October 4-5 to October 20-21. The staff concurs with this proposal. It will greatly benefit the staff due to the fact that we will be holding only one state golf tournament each week.

B. Volleyball – Put Division II State Volleyball Tournament with Division I State Volleyball Tournament so that all three classifications are held at the same time at MTSU. This has already been recommended by the staff and approved by the Board of Control.

C. Basketball – Take the eight teams that qualify for the state tournament from the three Division II regions and play the first round, or sectional round, at the same time (Friday and Saturday) as Division I sectional tournaments are being played. These four games in girls and boys would be played in Nashville at a site to be determined by the state office staff. This would then leave four schools in the girls division and four schools in the boys division in Division II. It is then recommended that the semifinals and finals of Division II be played with the girls tournament and the boys tournament so that both tournaments would have all four classifications. The state office staff also concurs with this recommendation.

D. Wrestling – The Division II schools are recommending that the wrestling format return to the same format as 1997-98 with the dual meet tournament being held on the first weekend in February and the Division II individual tournament being held on the second weekend at a separate site. This year’s tournament was held at Father Ryan High School. The state office staff also concurs with this recommendation.

Supplement #18 also contains recommendations from the Division II Committee to the Board of Control. Further information will be provided by Barbara Daush and also by members of the staff.

34. Television Proposal for 1998 Football Championship Games