Wisconsin high schools would not be able to join the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association unless the WIAA agrees to follow open government laws under a new bill working its way through the state Assembly.
The bill would require interscholastic athletic associations to abide by Wisconsin open government laws.
Under the bill, anyone would have the right to inspect or copy a public record from the WIAA, unless it is deemed the public interest in withholding access to the information contained in the record outweighs the public interest in providing access.
The WIAA is responsible for setting rules, determining eligibility and setting up tournaments for high school athletes across the state.
Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said the bill provides more information and more accountability at all levels, and he thinks there is a good possibility of the bill moving forward to the Assembly.
“I think it is a good thing anytime you have openness [with] people that control government or school functions,” Montgomery said.
Peter Fox, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, said he supports the bill because it would benefit the general public. He said the organization believes the WIAA has qualified as a quasi-governmental entity for several decades because it oversees high school athletics in public schools across the state.
“Virtually every person who is on a committee of the WIAA are employees of local public schools,” Fox said. “Only a small amount [of their employees] are from private schools.”
If public schools have to operate under open government laws, high school athletics should be held to the same standard, Fox said.
While those who are opposed to the bill say it is an invasion of privacy of student athletes, Fox claims this is a smoke screen argument.
“Indeed, the WIAA is allowed times where they are allowed to maintain confidentiality of certain material,” Fox said.
However, Dave Anderson from the WIAA opposes the new bill because he believes the WIAA is already a very transparent organization. They respond to questions from parents, coaches and legislators on a daily basis anytime someone has concerns.
“The fact of the matter is that this association was formed by school administrators,” Anderson said. “We don’t exist as a public entity.”
In addition, the WIAA deals with information on a daily basis that is very emotional and personal, Anderson said. If someone chooses to argue over whether or not a certain piece of information is protected and brings the issue to court, the resulting process holds up tournaments.
Private schools also make up about 15 percent of the WIAA membership, according to Anderson.
“They will not be prepared in their ability to keep records or respond to requests when there are disagreements [should this bill pass],” Anderson said.
Anderson said he believes the new bill is unnecessary because the WIAA has tried to be transparent and responsive to virtually every request for information received.
