PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The association that governs South Dakota high school sports and fine arts activities should make its decisions and operations more open to public scrutiny, state lawmakers said Tuesday.
During a meeting, members of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee said the South Dakota High School Activities Association should comply with state laws on open meetings and public documents, even though it’s technically not a government agency. They said the association uses tax money from member school districts, sells tickets to events held in public buildings, and its staff is covered by the state’s public pension system.
The activities association should operate more like a public agency, said Senate Appropriations Chair Deb Peters, R-Hartford.
“We need to clarify the law in order to make that happen,” Peters said.
Wayne Carney, executive director of the association, said the organization’s audits, meeting agendas and minutes are posted on its website. The association is working to get its board meetings streamed live on the Internet by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, he said.
“We will do what we need to do to be better communicators in what we do,” Carney said at the end of a two-hour meeting with the Appropriations Committee.
Carney said 181 South Dakota schools are members of the activities association, which oversees high school football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball and other sports. It also governs such activities as debate and music.
The association takes in nearly $2.2 million a year in receipts, with more than $1.4 million coming from gate receipts at events. It also gets money from corporate sponsors and fees paid by schools. The association is directed by an eight-member elected board made up of school officials from around the state.
House Appropriations Chair Fred Romkema, R-Spearfish, said the association has not been completely open to the public. Until a few years ago, the association refused to give its annual audit to the Legislature, he said.
Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, asked whether the association is a private or public organization.
“That’s probably up for debate,” Carney responded, adding that it’s a nonprofit organization.
The association’s lawyer, Lindsey Riter-Rapp, said the organization does not technically meet the definition of agencies covered by the state’s open meetings and records laws. However, it seeks to comply with those laws, she said.
Peters said the Legislature wants to make sure the association is accountable and more transparent.
“School boards have asked us to help them oversee the High School Activities Association. They feel they don’t get the information they need,” she said.
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