News

It is essential for WIAA member schools to engage in the democratic process that governs the Assocation through involvement in the creation, implementation and enforcement of the policy-making process.  

That is the impetus of the Constitutional amendment that, if approved, would require a member school to maintain administrative control and oversight of at least one independently sponsored interscholastic athletic program or co-op program throughout the duration of membership. 

A similar amendment was brought forward to the Annual Meeting last year, but a motion was approved to postpone the vote until this year because of the impact the amendment, as it was then written, would have on a number of member schools that only offer cooperative arrangements.

The rationale for the amendment focuses on the desire to have an informed, engaged and committed membership. By requiring a member to have at least one athletic program or have the oversight of at least one co-op, school administration will need to be engaged and have a fundamental understanding of the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility.

Under this requirement, a school will not be eligible to become a new member of the WIAA if it does not sponsor at least one stand-alone sport program or have administrative control of at least one co-op arrangement. With the existing admission requirements, a school can be approved for membership without any administrative responsibilities for sport programs if it co-ops with other member schools that assume the responsibility of administering the co-op.

The amendment gained unanimous support for adoption by the Board of Control, Advisory Council and the Sports Advisory Committee.