Librera
rules out takeover of NJSIAA
Athletic association has less
than month to present reform plan to commissioner.
Friday, July 22, 2005 • By TERRENCE DOPP •
The Express-Times
TRENTON -- Education Commissioner William
Librera on Thursday ruled out a state takeover of the
embattled group regulating high school sports in New
Jersey.
Librera directed the New Jersey State
Interscholastic Athletic Association to craft new travel
policies, reduce a $2 million operating surplus and lower
ticket prices for post season events.
"The commissioner is not even considering
that course of action. He doesn't think that is the way to
go at all," said Kathryn Forsyth, Librera's spokeswoman.
"Right now, he's just waiting for them to get back to him on
the letter."
Librera gave the NJSIAA until Aug. 19 to
respond.
Executive Director Boyd Sands has said
reforms have already started at the agency, which oversees
athletic activities in 31 sports at 433 public and private
schools statewide.
Over the last several months Assemblyman
John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, has been the Legislature's
most outspoken critic of the agency. He and others object to
the $7 to $12 prices charged for tickets to championship
events, calling them excessive.
Burzichelli also blasted Sands' $142,000
salary -- which goes along with a $92,000 pension from his
time as superintendent at Delsea Regional High School in
Franklinville -- and several trips NJSIAA leaders have
taken. In June 2004, the NJSIAA spent $24,000 to fly 14
people -- including the spouses of five executives -- to a
conference in San Diego.
Folding the now-private agency into the
state Department of Education is "a potential option if the
NJSIAA has not gotten its own house back in order and
restored the confidence of the public," Burzichelli said.
"Right now, we know it's in a critical area in that it
failed New Jersey's kids. Whether that organization survives
remains to be seen."
But Jack Holloway, executive director of
the Delaware State Interscholastic Athletic Association,
said a takeover may not work in New Jersey.
Three years ago, Delaware's Legislature
brought the agency under the umbrella of the state's
education department following its own scandal involving its
executive director.
Holloway, who was an athletic director at
William Penn High School in Delaware, said the state has
about one-eighth of the workload of the NJSIAA.
Anytime a rule change is needed it
involvespetitioning legislators to enact it, he
added.
"On the good side, you do have increased
scrutiny. There's no doubt about that," Holloway said,
adding he is unable to hire any workers beyond himself and
an assistant to deal with the growing workload.
"Educationally and philosophically I
think it's a good thing. Practically speaking -- it's
different," he said. "For the Department of Education to
expand personnel it like any other state agency has to go
before the Legislature. And nobody likes big government.
Nobody likes to see government grow."
Librera can negate NJSIAA decisions
through a veto of portions of its minutes. Librera had
previously dispatched Warren County Superintendent of
Schools William King, his liaison to the NJSIAA and a member
of its board, to study the issue.
His letter to the NJSIAA followed King's
findings, Librera said.
Terrence Dopp is Trenton correspondent for The
Express-Times. He can be reached at 609-292-5154 or by
e-mail at tdopp@sjnewsco.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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