NCHSAA commissioner speaks out about SB 636 at House committee meeting
N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker was at the legislative building in downtown on Raleigh on Tuesday, this time to speak out against the latest bill that seeks to diminish the organization's ability to manage high school sports in North Carolina.
The House Education Committee held a lengthy discussion about Senate Bill 636, which included three primary sponsors of the bill — Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union), Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell), and Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Moore).
The three senators fielded questions from members of the House committee about the bill, ranging from student eligibility, to the appeals process, to name, image, and likeness policies. While much of that discussion was information already heard in Senate hearings, Tucker's appearance at the committee meeting was new.
After the legislature passed House Bill 91 in November 2021, Tucker and the NCHSAA Board of Directors worked with the State Board of Education to draft a memorandum of understanding that allowed the NCHSAA to continue administering high school sports in North Carolina for at least four more years. The agreement went into effect in July 2022.
"We signed that in good faith, believing that we had four years that we would be working in concert with the North Carolina State Board of Education, and that we would be reporting to the General Assembly as dictated by the bill," Tucker said to the committee. "We have worked well this year. It went into effect July 1. We're not even at a year."
During the committee meeting, the senators brought up concerns they have about the NCHSAA, stating that things were not implemented in the memorandum of understanding the way they had intended when they passed HB 91.
However, Tucker took issue with that because she says no one in the General Assembly has reached out to the NCHSAA with any concerns, despite having written legislation that would drastically change the way high school sports in North Carolina operate.
"Never were we called. We have a board of directors who represent all parts of the state. We were never called, we never received an email. Our membership, which is made up of 432 schools, approved amendments so that we could be in compliance with the memorandum of understanding," she said.
As members raised questions about transparency within the NCHSAA, finances, and more, Tucker said she could answer every one of those questions if legislators reached out to her. However, public comments are limited to two minutes at committee hearings, and she said she would need more time.
"A lot of questions have been asked. i could answer all of those questions that you've asked, but I can't do it in two minutes. Our board could answer those questions, but we can't do that in two minutes," said Tucker. "We have been in existence for over 100 years and during that time we have prided ourselves on doing ... what is in the best interests of students ... If you have these questions and concerns, I welcome the opportunity to explain it. For an organization that I have spent 32 years for, I'd gladly let you know what we're doing in a transparent way."
Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) said at the end of Tucker's comments that the committee may look at bringing the NCHSAA in to share its perspective in a future hearing.
Tucker was not the only person who spoke about SB 636 on Tuesday. Retired Wake County Schools district athletic director Bobby Guthrie also spoke at the meeting. After spending 18.5 years overseeing athletics in Wake County, Guthrie retired 10 years ago. He told legislators he has "no dog in the fight," but he urged them to communicate with the NCHSAA.
"SB 636 is not needed. HB 91 and the current MOU can handle all issues with the proper communication between all parties. You have to get together. You have to talk on this. You have to learn," Guthrie said. ""You need to know more than is known right now."
No vote was taken on Senate Bill 636 on Tuesday, so it remains in the House Education Committee. It has already passed the Senate on a party-line vote, but it will have to work its way through the House before potentially going to Gov. Roy Cooper (D). Republicans have super majorities in both the House and Senate, so if all Republicans vote in favor, they could override any potential veto from the governor.
