Thursday, June 18, 1998

HHSAA quietly
choosing new boss

Executive Board president
Anthony Ramos says sunshine
laws don't apply

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

The five-member board that operates state tournaments for Hawaii's public and private high schools will choose a new director Monday under tight secrecy.

But Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive board president Anthony Ramos, secondary school principal at Kamehameha, said it's not because the HHSAA is trying to hide anything. "It's because we are a private corporation and we are not bound by the sunshine laws," said Ramos.

The association declared itself financially independent of the Department of Education a few years ago and now operates under the terms of a nonprofit corporation.

But local attorney Jill Nunokawa said last night that because the HHSAA's decisions affect public school students and because it still receives money from the legislature, it is in fact a "quasi state" organization.

Nunokawa said that should require the HHSAA executive board, composed of principals from each of the state's five leagues, to open its proceedings to the public.

Most of the schools the HHSAA serves are public schools.

Ramos admitted the HHSAA received a grant of about $38,000 from the Legislature for staff development and operating costs.

But Ramos argued the final four candidates for the executive directorship of the HHSAA, who were nominated by a seven-person selection panel on June 4, have a right to privacy.

"They are not paid by the taxpayers," he said.

He said their names will not be revealed and the media will not be allowed to attend the executive board meeting on Monday at his Kamehameha office.

But Nunokawa, who went head-to-head with the HHSAA over closed-door decisions earlier this year to move the girls' soccer tournament to Maui and drop the first girls' wrestling tournament, said the public does have a right to know something about the HHSAA's hiring process.

She cited the recent public release of candidates' names for the posts of schools superintendent and police chief.

"Its always been a point of contention that their decisions directly affect public school students and that would require the sunshine laws to apply," said Nunokawa.

With the association facing an uncertain financial future, the upcoming director selection is considered one of the most crucial decisions in the HHSAA's history.

Ramos said one of the HHSAA's key job criteria -- that the candidate be able to "market the association for the purpose of generating revenue . . . " -- is reflected in the finalists.

He hinted that three of the four do not have purely athletic job backgrounds. Ramos indicated that all four would be capable of finding creative ways to financially bolster the HHSAA.

At least one unsuccessful applicant questioned the HHSAA job criteria.

Mike Vasconcellos, who was athletic director of Chaminade for 18 years and who has a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in guidance and counseling, said he was not even granted an interview.

Vasconcellos was a finalist for the HHSAA executive director job last year when Dwight Toyama was selected.

Selection committee chairman Gary Griffiths, Aiea High principal, said Vasconcellos and other candidates did not meet the "criteria matrix" drawn up for the job. The description is available on the internet at www.sportsHIGH.com. It calls for a master's degree in administration, physical education or "related field." It also calls for a minimum of five years administrative or supervisory experience.

Interim HHSAA executive director Hank Kibota will step down at the end of next month. He is not a candidate for the post.