The Kentucky Legislature is considering legislation to modify regulations pertaining to student-athletes in public schools. Testimony last week included the case of a northern Kentucky student.
Members of the Senate Education Committee heard the case of 13-year-old Keira Kobida. Kobida is transferring to Highlands High School in Campbell County where she hopes to participate on the swim team. But, the current regulation states any student who transfers from a district of residence to a nonresident district shall be ineligible for one year. Kobida said she’s happy she got accepted at Highlands.
“I think it could just make it even better if I could participate in sports and if I could have the opportunity to have a whole nother season of playing a sport that I love, said Kobida.
The legislation removes the one-year restriction. Although voting yes, Greensburg Senator David Givens expressed some concern about athletic recruiting in public schools. After the meeting, Givens said the bill might be modified to prevent abuse of transfers while still allowing for it.
Attending the meeting was Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett. Tackett said there could be some concerns about recruiting student-athletes.
“It certainly leads to the possibility that there could be some collusion among groups that just want to stay together, play together. They’ve been together on a little league team. Now they all want to go to high school together, but some of them live out of district. It does open that possibility,” said Tackett.
Tackett said there are thousands of students who could fall into that category.
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