Board of Directors Meeting Synopsis: June 3, 2025
Posted: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 4:55 AM
Venue: Minnesota State High School League Office, Brooklyn Center
Board Member Joe Fittante shared the reflection.
Board President Don Peschel called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m.
The Board of Directors approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda.
The Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from April 3, 2025, were approved.
Board Members shared comments focusing on the busy time of the year with multiple state tournaments happening. Thanks were offered to our hosting venues, our League staff and our Board Members who manage and support providing opportunities for students. Programs like SALT and adapted sports were singled out as examples of the League providing opportunities for all students.
Lobbyist’s Report
League Lobbyist Roger Aronson shared updates from the State Legislature, including the K-12 policy bill and other education components of legislation. The legislature continues its work and will come back into special session at some point over the next couple of weeks to complete the work.
Legal Counsel Report
League Counsel Kevin Beck reported that one pending lawsuit was filed.
Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Erich Martens:
Recognized the work that goes into planning for safety and security at all League events.
Recognized League lobbyist Roger Aronson for his work on behalf of the League and its Member Schools.
Introduced incoming Board of Directors Members: Jake Foslien, West Central Area, Region 5A-6A; Brad Skogerboe, New Prague, Regions 1AA-2AA. Shawn Yates, Warroad, Minnesota Association of School Administrators; a governor appointee and a representative from the Minnesota School Board Association will also join the Board of Directors beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Recognized Administrative Assistant Nancy Myers, who has served the League for more than 23 years. She will retire, effective July 4.
Recognized the St. Michael-Albertville High School choir and one act play for their selection as Minnesota’s recipient of the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award.
Recognized longtime official and Adapted Athletics advocate Paul Pranghofer for his selection as Minnesota’s recipient of the NFHS Spirit of Sport Award.
Heard reports from League staff and Board Members about the Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Robotics and Badminton state tournaments as well as the Visual Arts State Festival.
League staff reported on the League’s attendance at the Tucker Center’s Women Coaches Symposium.
Shared that the MSHSL Foundation continues to provide strong support to the Together Student Conferences.
Executive Committee Report
Board of Directors President Don Peschel provided the Executive Committee report. The Executive Committee:
Approved the meeting minutes from April 2, 2025; April 21, 2025, and May 15, 2025.
Reviewed and approved membership applications from Aim Academy of Science and Technology, Calvary Classical Academy, and Sejong Academy. Also granted provisional approval for Great Oaks Academy awaiting other documents from Great Oaks.
Reviewed Board Meeting Action Items on 9th Grade Governance, Winter Advisory Proposals and the Member School Program Limitation Policy.
Reviewed and approved League Staff Employee Agreements and recently submitted Retirements.
Received an update on the Enrollment and Eligibility Ad Hoc Committee.
Received planning updates for the July 2025 Summer Board of Directors Workshop and Meeting.
The Board of Directors approved the Executive Committee report as presented.
Action Items
9A: 2025-2026 Board of Directors Officers
The Board of Directors ratified the electronic voting for Board Officers. They are Brent Schimek, president; Keith Cornell, vice president and LeRoy Fairbanks, treasurer.
9B: 9th Grade Governance
The Board of Directors approved the Glossary, Interpretations and Board Policies sections of the MSHSL Handbook to reflect the inclusion of 9th Grade Governance. This final approval of updated language was necessary to implement 9th Grade Governance beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and all updated information will be included in the MSHSL Official Handbook this coming fall.
9C: Board Policies: Bylaw 411.G Alumni Participation
The Board of Directors approved clarifying language to assist in ensuring that student participants are not in violation of League bylaws. The new language reads: MSHSL participants may only participate with or against other MSHSL participants during their MSHSL season. The participation by MSHSL participants with or against alumni members violates Bylaw 208 and their participation is not covered by MSHSL-provided insurance policies. The scheduling of contests by an MSHSL team with non-MSHSL teams or individuals, including alumni, is also a violation of Bylaw 411 Scheduling of Contests.
9D: Winter Activity Advisory proposals
Debate:
The Board of Directors approved the proposed changes to the MSHSL Debate rules. Debate rules in Minnesota are created and amended through the Board of Directors.
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Congressional Debate Session Structure: This approval will utilize a preset randomized recency chart reset in each round. This will ensure that students are actually selected randomly and not impacted by individual bias. Currently, the Presiding Officer selects individuals in the room to speak.
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Congressional Debate Tie Breakers: This approval removes the lowest and highest ranks for each student in calculating their cumulative score.
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Evidence Rules: This approval updates evidence rules to account for modern technology. The League rules will be updated to follow the guidelines of the National Speech and Debate Association.
Nordic Skiing:
The following proposals were not approved by the Board of Directors:
Code of Conduct: This proposal introduced rules and guidelines to follow for competitors, coaches and spectators during races. The Code of Conduct, from the Federation of International Skiing, focuses on safety, respect and fairness. The League has its own set of expected behaviors and section and state tournaments should be using these to administer the event.
Increased Number of Ski Pursuit Qualifiers: The proposal would have expanded the number of individual qualifiers to six skiers not on a qualifying team earning a berth at the state meet. This increase was designed to increase participation and create more opportunities to qualify for the state meet. Currently, the top four individual skiers, who are not part of a qualifying team, earn a berth at the state meet along with the skiiers on qualifying sprint relays.
Video Review: This proposal would have permitted Nordic Skiing race officials to use video recordings to assist in identifying and reviewing infractions during races. A video review policy, already implemented by FIS and U.S. Skiing, would help ensure consistent and fair decision-making. Currently, Bylaw 407.1c states that video recordings may not be used to overrule an official’s decision or change the outcome of a game, meet or contest.
Wrestling:
Additional Half Day to the State Tournament: The Board of Directors approved adding an additional half day to the Wrestling State Tournament. This approval will add an extra half day with Day 1 of the state tournament beginning on Wednesday afternoon. This proposal adds flexibility to the state tournament schedules and will help the League meet its goal of increasing the number of qualifiers in Girls Wrestling and keeping the numbers comparable to boys in wrestling. In addition, the League is better positioned to add girls dual wrestling once the number of viable teams reaches the required levels.
Additional Weight Classes for Sub-Junior Varsity level: The Board of Directors approved a change that creates additional weight classes at 100 pounds, 94 pounds and 88 pounds in sub-junior varsity level competitions.
Classification: The Board of Directors did not approve a proposal to adjust the classification divisions designed to ensure the 64 largest enrollment programs along with any opt ups would fill Class AAA. The next 96 teams would be Class AA, minus those that opt up to Class AAA. Class A would remain the same to include all remaining teams. This option is not available in the current classification policy.
9E: Member School Program Limitation Policy
The Board of Directors approved a proposal that establishes clear and concise language to limit the interscholastic programs that a Member School may have. The approved policy clarifies that a Member School may have only one interscholastic program in a sport. For example: A Member School may not have a national traveling team and an MSHSL-sponsored team in the same sport.
9F: Coaching Education Requirement Policy
The Board of Directors approved a policy that brings the League’s policies and practices into alignment. Member Schools and their coaches will now see clear and direct policy language regarding coach education requirements.
Discussion Items
10A: 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget
League Staff shared a first look at a preliminary budget and anticipated revenues and expenses for the new fiscal year. While some information is still being finalized, the League forecasts a balanced budget.
10B: 2025-2026 Membership Dues and Activity Fees
League Staff shared preliminary information that links the budget forecast with the application of membership dues credits to Member Schools. Both the membership dues and the overall budget will be established at the late July Board Meeting.
10C: 2025-2026 Speech Season: Books and Topic
League Staff did a first review of the recommended books and topic for the 2025-2026 school year in Speech.
This will be an Action Item for the Board of Directors Meeting on July 29.
10D: Football Replay Policy
League Staff shared information on an updated policy for football replay that mirrors the same rules in the final two minutes of the first half to those that are used in the final two minutes of regulation time. This will be an Action Item during the Board of Directors Meeting on July 29.
10E: Dance Team Rules
League Staff shared two recommended changes from the Dance Rules Committee to the League-authored rules book which include uniform and music/routines rules revisions. This will be an Action Item during the Board of Directors Meeting on July 29.
Committee Reports
11A: Eligibility Committee
The Board of Directors approved the Eligibility Report as presented.
11B: Audit/Finance Committee
The Board of Directors approved the Financial Statements from March 2025 and April 2025.
The Board of Directors approved the Annual Financial Report for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Board of Directors approved the Form 990 Charitable Organization Report, the annual tax reporting document for non-profit organizations.
11C: Marketing and Communications Committee
The League has renewed its three-year contract with TicketManager, a media credentialing management vendor. The League issues more than 4,000 media credentials each school year.
League Staff shared information on the updates to the Media Policies and Guidelines that are being prepared for the 2025-2026 school year. Those policies are part of a Publications Action Item at the next Board of Directors Meeting on July 29.
League Staff shared information about current and potential future sponsorships.
11D: Education and Leadership
The Board of Directors approved a committee recommendation for the Together 4.0 Student Leadership Meetings to be held on: Nov. 18, Mankato; Nov. 20, Bemidji; Dec. 1, Twin Cities; Dec. 3, Willmar.
League Staff shared information on the new CER and concussion modules being considered for the upcoming three-year cycle.
League staff shared student feedback from the recent SALT session held in May. Minnesota will send representatives to the national student leadership conference in July.
An update on the recruitment, registration and education of officials was provided.
Informational
New Board of Directors Orientation is on Tuesday, July 8 at the League Office.
The Board of Directors Summer Workshop and Board Meeting are July 27-29 at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood.
The Board of Directors Meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
