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From the WIAA -- 

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control supported increasing the distance of the girls cross country race in the Tournament Series to five kilometers and determined criteria for volunteer appointments to the ad-hoc committee assigned to examine competitive equity at its May meeting today in Stevens Point.

The impetus to lengthen the distance of the girls competitive course to five kilometers from the traditional four kilometers came following a letter received from the Office of Civil Rights acknowledging it received a complaint regarding the difference in distances for the genders. The boys currently run a 5-kilometer distance. The Board approved the change beginning this fall after hearing presentations by representatives both in support and opposed to the recommendation.  

Extensive Board consideration was given to the parameters and representation that will comprise the ad-hoc committee to analyze the membership’s state of competitive equity. Appointments to the committee will be representatives from a cross section of the membership, including various levels of school administrative experience from public and private schools; small, medium and large schools; gender; and geographic districts. The Board also determined that current members of WIAA committees or the executive staff will not be eligible to be assigned to the committee, but will serve in a facilitating and resource role.

The membership voted to send the competitive equity discussion to committee by a 352-77 vote at the Annual Meeting last month.  The action to form a committee contained specific timelines including recommendations to be shared with the Executive Staff prior to Sept. 1, 2014, and eventually advanced to the 2015 Annual Meeting. The ad-hoc committee was also grated the authority to request additional time as it may deem necessary. 

In other action, the Board gave final approval of a plan to move Wonewoc-Center from the Scenic Bluffs Conference to the Ridge & Valley Conference for football beginning in 2015.

In other action, the Board approved adding language to the Spectator/Crowd Conduct Policies in the Senior High Handbook that publishes the interpretation of the membership’s policy regarding the commercialization of images taken during WIAA Tournament Series events, as well as retransmissions of video originated at tournament games. 

The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 505 senior high schools and 62 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 24 championship tournament series. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.