KHSAA board blasts LCA

 

By Mike Fields

[email protected]

Lexington Christian Academy representatives got an earful of criticism from some Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control members on Monday.

 

It was the first time LCA appeared before the board since the school was fined and put on probation for giving improper financial assistance to student-athletes.

 

LCA did not appeal the charges, and already has paid a $3,000 fine and reimbursed the KHSAA $10,982 for the cost of its investigation.

 

Gregg Thornton, a lawyer and chairman of LCA's board of directors, had charts to detail how many black students received aid from what the KHSAA called "unapproved funding sources."

 

He also explained new policies that LCA has adopted to prevent it from happening in the future.

 

Thornton said some black student-athletes received financial aid from churches and/or private foundations that were trying to diversify LCA's student body.

 

"There was no evil intent," Thornton said. "There was no evidence any of these kids were recruited (for athletics).

 

"There is a misconception that some of these kids got more (aid) than they qualified for. That's not true. They never got more than their tuition."

 

Thornton admitted the school should have been aware of KHSAA rules regarding the unapproved funding sources.

 

"What we did was wrong, and the school should have been penalized," he said.

 

Bob Schneider, a board of control member who is athletic director and football coach at Newport Central Catholic, said LCA officials should have been more vigilant about the sources of financial aid.

 

"We've been dealing with public-private issues for three years now, and we've talked about financial aid a number of times," Schneider said. "It was out there big time."

 

Schneider said there was already a push among some public school superintendents to impose a boycott, also called a "schedule reduction," against private schools, and that push will intensify because of LCA's violations.

 

"(LCA) may have the money to afford to go state to state to play, but my school's gonna get killed," Schneider said. "We'll be out of business if there's a boycott."

 

Schneider also said he thought LCA has acted as if it "really didn't do anything wrong ... but it was wrong. This is something that's gonna hurt every private school in the state."

 

Jerry Keepers, a board of control member from Southern High School in Louisville, said it "kind of blows my mind" that LCA won the girls' state basketball title last season with a key player who had received financial aid from unapproved sources.

I don't think NCC has to worry about a "schedule reduction."

KHSAA board blasts LCA

 

By Mike Fields

[email protected]

Lexington Christian Academy representatives got an earful of criticism from some Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control members on Monday.

 

It was the first time LCA appeared before the board since the school was fined and put on probation for giving improper financial assistance to student-athletes.

 

LCA did not appeal the charges, and already has paid a $3,000 fine and reimbursed the KHSAA $10,982 for the cost of its investigation.

 

Gregg Thornton, a lawyer and chairman of LCA's board of directors, had charts to detail how many black students received aid from what the KHSAA called "unapproved funding sources."

 

He also explained new policies that LCA has adopted to prevent it from happening in the future.

 

Thornton said some black student-athletes received financial aid from churches and/or private foundations that were trying to diversify LCA's student body.

 

"There was no evil intent," Thornton said. "There was no evidence any of these kids were recruited (for athletics).

 

"There is a misconception that some of these kids got more (aid) than they qualified for. That's not true. They never got more than their tuition."

 

Thornton admitted the school should have been aware of KHSAA rules regarding the unapproved funding sources.

 

"What we did was wrong, and the school should have been penalized," he said.

 

Bob Schneider, a board of control member who is athletic director and football coach at Newport Central Catholic, said LCA officials should have been more vigilant about the sources of financial aid.

 

"We've been dealing with public-private issues for three years now, and we've talked about financial aid a number of times," Schneider said. "It was out there big time."

 

Schneider said there was already a push among some public school superintendents to impose a boycott, also called a "schedule reduction," against private schools, and that push will intensify because of LCA's violations.

 

"(LCA) may have the money to afford to go state to state to play, but my school's gonna get killed," Schneider said. "We'll be out of business if there's a boycott."

 

Schneider also said he thought LCA has acted as if it "really didn't do anything wrong ... but it was wrong. This is something that's gonna hurt every private school in the state."

Jerry Keepers, a board of control member from Southern High School in Louisville, said it "kind of blows my mind" that LCA won the girls' state basketball title last season with a key player who had received financial aid from unapproved sources.

 

This kinda stands out for me. LCA's attitude. A little more weight behind the statement when comming from Coach Schneider.

At least there is someone who is taking this for what it is. Not a public private issue, but an issue of cheating or following the rules.

At least there is someone who is taking this for what it is. Not a public private issue, but an issue of cheating or following the rules.

 

Cheating yes ...when was the last time a public school was caught doing this? Giving money to student athletes. Publics have been caught doing everything else ..but not this.

Cheating yes ...when was the last time a public school was caught doing this? Giving money to student athletes. Publics have been caught doing everything else ..but not this.

 

They don't have to give money to the public student athlete. Their school is already being paid by someone....the taxpayers!

They don't have to give money to the public student athlete. Their school is already being paid by someone....the taxpayers!

 

Yes they do, If I go out of district I pay tution.

They don't have to give money to the public student athlete. Their school is already being paid by someone....the taxpayers!

 

NOT true. There are many public schools that require tuition. There are also many people within these communities that would be willing to help students with this tuition, but they don't because it is illegal.

NOT true. There are many public schools that require tuition. There are also many people within these communities that would be willing to help students with this tuition, but they don't because it is illegal.

 

List those public schools for me? Please!

Yes they do, If I go out of district I pay tution.

 

NOT true. There are many public schools that require tuition. There are also many people within these communities that would be willing to help students with this tuition, but they don't because it is illegal.

 

You boys brought a tear to this old debater's eye by beating me to this post.:thumb::D:lol:

Yes they do, If I go out of district I pay tution.

 

Ok...than be more specific to that type situation in the future!

List those public schools for me? Please!

 

Highlands and Beechwood come off the top of my head. They both take tuition students, they both have alumni that would be willing to help students with tuition, but they both do not follow this practice because it is illegal.

List those public schools for me? Please!

 

Highlands requires out of district tuition I believe.

Beechwood, the same.

Pendleton County does.

 

I would hazard a guess that more public schools require out of district tuition than those that don't. The amount they charge varies a great deal.

Cheating yes ...when was the last time a public school was caught doing this? Giving money to student athletes. Publics have been caught doing everything else ..but not this.

 

I agree that you do not see this infraction in public schools. My point was that Bob could have defended the private school since he is associated with one, however, he instead did the right thing which was to condemn their actions. Of course, Bob is a class act.

Let me set somthing straight.....

I agree with the BOC blasting LCA as well as anyone else that is cheating. Bottom line...it is much easier to catch the private because there is a money trail. In the public schools you can go several ways...as a parent...put your kid on the market to the highest bidder as I like to call it...as a coach...say your talking to the kid/parent about college stuff (by the way...that one still cracks me up) :lol::lol: or get the kid to come to your school for that "special program" your school offers.

 

Again, cheating happens in public and private. Do I have the answer on how to make it stop..No. Only thing I can say is punish the ones caught cheating to HOPEFULLY detour future cheating.