Sen. Jay Chaudhuri: Concerns exist about NCHSAA, but HB 91 is moving 'too quickly, too fast'
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Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, the Democratic Whip, said he shares some of the concerns about the NCHSAA that his Republican colleagues have brought forward, but he believes a proposal to dissolve the NCHSAA and create a new organization is moving too quickly through the legislature. Chaudhuri said he would prefer working with the NCHSAA to find a solution.
Show Transcript
Yeah. Hello buddy. Welcome to high school. Ot I'm nick stevens and today we have senator jay chaudhary with us from Wake County democrat from Wake County senator. We appreciate the time you are on the Senate Education Committee. You were in both meetings the last couple days. Um, and had some comments today before the vote took place to move the hB 91 out of the Education Committee and political on the Finance committee now. Um, I just want to kind of get your overall take on on the bill as it sits right now and how we got to this, uh, spot. Obviously, you know, hp 91 was not a bill about the NCHS A at first it was about students with autism. Um, and I know the SHS a has told us they didn't know anything about this bill until the day, the day it was brought up. The amendment was brought up. What is, what are your thoughts on this bill and where things stand today? Um, well, good to be with your neck and thanks for having me on the show. I, you know, I think to answer your question, um, I think first of all, it's important and I said this in the education committee meeting, uh, that I really applaud the work of a number of my Senate colleagues, senator Mcguinness, senator johnson center Sawyer uh, in shining a light on the operations of the north Carolina High School Athletic Association. Um, there are, I think clear issues that need to be addressed. I think there's, you know, I think that those issues run everything from how do we provide more money for equipment and jerseys, for example, how can we provide more transparency and accountability? How can we provide the, um, appeals process? But I think where I depart from, uh, my senate colleagues who are pushing this this bill is that I think that it's it's moving too quickly, too fast. And part of my concern is, uh, number one, we really haven't even agreed to a set of findings that has come from the investigation of the north Carolina High School Athletic Association. I think that there are a lot of facts that we haven't agreed upon. Um although we've made a lot of recommendations and I don't think it's good public policy for us to make recommendations with agreeing without agreeing upon a set of facts. And uh, number two, I think when we get to the recommendations and this is what this bill and bodies, uh, my real concern is that we're seeing an example of really government overreach and big government essentially now governing the high school athletic, governing high school athletics. And I think that this governing board is far more political than what we have in place right now, and I would much rather see 100 and 10 plus year organization that's had a pretty good track record. Again, as I've said, it's not a perfect track record. I think he's had a pretty good track record um, for generations of high school athletes, including uh myself growing up in Cumberland County. And from my perspective, I think we should begin with the assumption that nonpartisan coaches, nonpartisan athletic directors and nonpartisan principles or a better position to decide what's best for our student athletes than a group of political appointees by the governor, the Senate protest and the speaker of the House. And the, you know, the last thing I will say is I've certainly received a lot of emails from athletic director, some student athletes and coaches and principles, I think the transformation is too much too fast. And I think that there's a real concern that it's going to undermine the confidence uh that so many of these individuals that play a critical part in managing and administering or high school athletics, uh that that it will undermine their confidence in the program. And we could see a real disruption potentially in the way that our high school athletic programs are run. Uh, You know, this does seem like it has moved super fast. I know, I don't I don't cover the Legislature on a normal basis, but I mean, the bill or the amendment to the bill was made yesterday. It's out of the education committee now and tomorrow will be voted on in finance or is expected to vote on in finance. Why do you think this is moving so quickly when, when we are talking about something that could really change, you know, everything about high school sports in north Carolina? Well, I, uh, you know, I think, I think if you I think if you were to ask that question, I think we heard that response today, um, by Senator johnson. I think from their perspective, I think that they really believed in the north Carolina. High School Athletic Association has not been a willing participant to sit down and talk and cooperate uh, with the north Carolina General Assembly about the concerns that they have. And so, um, I guess, as you know, we heard from Senator johnson, he said, we can, uh, fish and cut bait. And I guess what they've done is they've cut bait and setting up, uh, setting up a new organization. Um, I, I again, you know, from my perspective, I just, I just don't know. Um, given where we are in the process that this warrants a complete dissolution of 100 and 10 year organization, I would much rather try to keep the organization, but they have a willingness to engage in significant change, including, you know, governance changes as well as the issues that have been raised by the members of the committee. Uh, you did say today in your comments that you do share some of the concerns that have been raised. You know, you're talking about an appeals process, preferred vendors, accountability, transparency, that sort of stuff. What, what exactly are some of your concerns that you have specifically about the NCHS a Well, so look, I think there's been a lot of discussion and focus about the $40 million. But again, I think to make sure that we're on the same set of facts, we don't know how much of that money is in the endowment. How much is the operating cost? Um, how much of that money is in reserves? I think we had bits and pieces of that from the north Carolina High School Athletic Association today. Um, but I think that we have to have a better grasp on those numbers. And then I think it does raise a larger question of how that money is spent and whether, you know, the endowment should be geared towards helping schools pay for jerseys and equipment, which are issues that, you know, Senator johnson, saurian Mcguinness of race. So I think that, I mean, I, I share that concern. I think on the appeals process, you can always create an appeals process that may involve more third parties and less individuals from the association. I think if that's an issue, I think that's something that can be re examine and potentially changed as well. But again, my, my real concern is that I don't think it's fair to basically render the death penalty on the north Carolina High School Athletic Association an association by the way, this morning, nick is, as you know, uh, now has public support from the north Carolina Athletic Directors Association, has support from north Carolina Coaches Association, has support from north Carolina Wrestling uh, coaches Association and, um, and also from the north Carolina, from the National Federation of State High School Associations, which is the body that governs the 50 state high school athletic associations around the country, which really issued a very strong statement in support of the athletic association here. Part of what their statement talked about is that the, you know, the fact that this association has actually been a model and has been emulated by their associations. And so, look, I mean, it's our job to try to improve um, organizations and improve their governance. And I agreed to that. I just, again, my my initial take on it is it's just too much too fast the whole time we've been following this story and I think it was like february, maybe when when the first story came out about this uh investigation going on behind the scenes. Um we've been told it's either a bipartisan or nonpartisan issue. Um there have been a lot of democrats coming on the record to talk about this topic. Is this a bipartisan, nonpartisan issue? The concerns seem to be or there is a solution right now, do you know? Um So, look, I haven't surveyed in my position is uh democratic whip. I mean, I have not surveyed every member of our caucus about this. I think you're absolutely right. I mean, I think there are bipartisan and shared concerns about the high school athletic association and I think that those things have been lifted the discussion in the past to committee meetings. But is the solution bipartisan? You know, my my senses. I don't think we're there. I mean, certainly there's not an overwhelming bipartisan support in moving with this recommendation because I think in today's committee meetings, I think you heard a lot of senate democrats raised concerns about how fast this was moving and I think the opportunity to try to engage the athletic association, uh more than than before deciding to completely dissolve it. Have you had any conversations with the S. H. S. A. Or any of their representatives? Or do you plan to? I do. I mean, I I have I have talked to them, um, and I plan to continue to reach out to them. I mean, I think from my perspective, uh it's important and it's, you know, it I see it as my responsibility to try to move the athletic association to have those conversations so they're more dialogue that takes place between, um, the Republican Senate leadership on this issue with the high school Athletic association. I know you said you've heard from parents and coaches and all kinds of stuff. You know, obviously this is a hot topic on, on social media right now as well. Um, and and a lot of them are concerned about the future of high school sports right now. Obviously coming off of covid where high school sports were really hit hard. Um, and now going into what they hope is a normal year, there's kind of a sense of uncertainty. Now, in fact, Commissioner Tucker told us this morning in an interview that she thinks based on the language in this bill, with the Memorandum of Understanding requirement, that kind of stuff that even the 21 22 school year could be kind of hanging in the balance. Um What what would your message be to the to the kids and the families and the coaches who have that concern about the future of high school sports in the state. I mean, look, I would say that those concerns are valid. Um and it's the reason I'm asking those questions too, because I'm hearing the same thing from coaches and student athletes about the push to completely transform um are the way that our high school athletics are governed. And I think that those um can have real consequences. I think we're, you know, we're still uh not out of the pandemic. I mean we see the delta variant now growing, but at the same time, I think there's a lot of enthusiasm and energy around trying to make sure that we get our kids outside to um, to engage in high school sports. And, you know, is this the best moment in time for us to completely dissolved and then build a new bureaucracy at a time? Maybe when we should try to figure out how to improve it and work on providing more support to make sure that ultimately these student athletes have the best experiences we go into the, You know, 20- 2021, 22 school year. Uh, just one last question for you for, for people who, you know, are paying attention to this and maybe don't pay attention to state government on a regular basis. What does this process look like for uh, for this new bill to, I've just got to pass the Finance committee. Where does it go from there? And what would be the process separate if it passes the Senate? Does it go back to the House? Where do we go from here? Yeah, So I think typically, um, this bill would go to another committee, I believe it's scheduled to go in finance committee if it involves raising revenue. Um, and then it would ultimately come onto the Senate floor for debate. And if it were to pass the Senate, the bill would then go to the House where it would go through, um, you know, similar committees that have been that have been hearing it here in the Senate. And so, you know, it still has to pass, uh, it still has to pass the House chamber, uh, and then it still is going to require that governor cooper allow this bill to go into law. And I think, you know, that's that's another question. I think that that hasn't been answered. And so, you know, the bill, the bill will be fair, I think has a fair uh still it still has a ways to go before it actually becomes law and we see these changes take place. Mhm. All right, well, senator jay shelter, we appreciate the time. Thank you very much. And good luck the rest away this summer in the session. Thanks so much. Nick. Great to be with you.