TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

In Miami-Dade, panel decides who transfers

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2009

Hillsborough County isn't the first school district in Florida with an abundance of student-athlete transfers.

In 1998, an extensive investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association uncovered recruiting violations in Miami High's baseball and boys basketball programs. Seven players were found to have been recruited and received special inducement, such as housing assistance. The school was fined $2,500, and the teams forfeited all games in which the players participated, including the basketball team's Class 6A state championship.

It was the breaking point for the Miami-Dade School District.

"Our recruiting was out of control," said Cheryl Golden, now the instructional supervisor for Miami-Dade Public Schools' Division of Athletics and Activities. "It was an absolute nightmare."

The FHSAA, which has guidelines for students transferring during the school year, said it couldn't provide much help in stopping transfers during the summer.

"We are powerless to pass transfer rules because of [school] choice," said Sonny Hester, FHSAA's associate executive director, who oversees eligibility enforcement and compliance. "A parent chooses where and how their child goes to school. [State] legislation doesn't want to get in the way of choice, and we've done exactly what legislative asks."

A group of Miami-Dade school employees decided it was time to take a stance.

In 1999, the district created a transfer review committee made up of administrators, principals and athletic directors. If parents intend to transfer their child to another high school, including a magnet, they must explain their reason to the committee. If the committee decides the transfer is for athletic purposes or if student-athletes plan to enroll in schools outside their attendance districts, the students must forfeit their athletic eligibility for a year. The same penalty applies to student-athletes who falsify eligibility information.

The FHSAA "can't fix your internal problems," said Golden, who helped create the committee. "The only way to fix your problems that are specific to your district is to do it yourself."

Golden said the committee handles dozens of appeals each month. In the past 10 years, she said the committee has gone to court twice and won both cases. Although the work is tiresome, Golden said it has been worth it.

"We've reduced false transferring by 70 percent," she said. "Kids aren't going to risk not being eligible for a year. I tell my coaches, 'If you have to win with someone else's kid, you're not a winner.'"

Polk County plans to implement a system similar to Miami-Dade's by the end of July. But Hillsborough County is not considering a policy change.

"That idea comes up many times," said Jennifer Burchill, Hillsborough County's assistant athletic director. However, "We have a policy in place regarding school choice that we abide by."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT