(4-14-26) The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Executive Director Mark Byers recently replied to Old Forge’s Superintendent Dr. Chris Gatto’s letter about ‘What the PIAA is about‘.
12-29-26 – Mark Byers will take over as PIAA Executive Director, organization announces
His answer below…
“The primary obstacle to substantial reform is the language of the existing legislation. Should you desire to effectuate substantial change, you may want to consider contacting your legislator and seeking an amendment of Section 511(b.1). Absent such change, we will continue to regularly assess the situation and seek means to best ensure competitive equality within the scope of the law.”
That answer was probably not what many PIAA public school officials were looking for. It appears that the ED was talking down to Superintendent Byers.
RELATED:
- Pennsylvania School Superintendent Questions PIAA ‘What is the PIAA about?’
- Public Vs. Private Battle Fires Up In Pennsylvania
- The Capitol Call For PIAA Playoff Reform
NOTE: Yes other states have both public and private schools competing against each other. But each state handles that in different ways. Ohio has a formula for competetive balance that you might need a doctrate to understand it an how it works or if does work.
- Wisconsin Passes Competitive Balance Plan
- AHSAA Wins Court Battle Over Competitive Balance Plan
- Common Pleas Court Can Consider Challenge to OHSAA’s Competitive Balance Rule
- Court Rules Against OHSAA’s Use of Competitive Balance
- IHSAA Executive Committee Amends Four Class Proposal And Tournament Success Factor Effective 2024-25
Interesting that the ED refers to the NFHS…the United Nations of high school sports that has no real impact on state associations and often bypasses issues they want to avoid.
Details on the Competitive Balance process are posted at
http://www.ohsaa.org/School-Resources/Competitive-Balance-Resource-Center
Stateline Sports Network 