NCHSAA members voting on parochial, charter schools

Raleigh News & Observer prep writer Tim Stevens reports that the N.C. High School Athletic Association is allowing its 390 members to vote on whether parochial schools, such as Charlotte Catholic and soon-to-open Christ the King, can remain members of the public school association.

Members are also voting on whether charter schools, such as Lake Norman Charter and Pine Lake Prep, will get their own playoffs. The proposal would allow these schools to stay in their respective conferences, but would force the schools to play other charter schools if any of their sports teams qualify for the postseason.

The NCHSAA allows non-boarding parochial schools to be members and charter schools, which are public schools, to play along with other member schools in the playoffs, but the organization was prompted to vote on the issues following a request from Salisbury, West Rowan, East Rowan, South Rowan, North Rowan and China Grove Carson.

Salisbury High athletic director Joe Pinyan told the N&O that the main issue is the lack of geographical boundaries for parochial and charter schools.

“Our students come from a specific area. Theirs do not. Their players can come from anywhere," Pinyan told the N&O. “It is not a level playing field.”

Member schools have until April 24 to return the ballots.