[Harry Rex Vonner]

I think its all in the "subsidies" you mentioned. Imo, there is a big difference in RECRUITING and getting a kid to transfer schools. Raceland has been accused of "recruiting" but i have to say, that to my knowledge, no tuition has ever been paid for a student by anyone other than that student or their parents. Im also pretty confident that everyone Raceland attained over the year were within the district or did things within the open enrollment agreement. Im sure its like this for other schools as well.

The fact of the matter remains that these are kids we r talking about. If my son comes to me and says "Dad, if I change from my current(school x) and transfer to this new school (school y), I have a greater opportunity to better myself for a college education and possibly a schollarship" FOR WHATEVER REASON, I would look into it. Things have to be done within the laws of the KHSAA and the childs best interest must be considered as well. I just think alot of times people instantly through the term RECRUITING around with jealous, jaded, and arbiturary anamosity, without looking at the facts. Are some guilty of actual recruiting? Of course. But many times its simply that the kid has friends in another school or their parents have ties to another school, and the kid moves. Just be ause a kid comes from somewhere else, doesnt necissarily mean that provisions were made by boosters, coaches, or board members to house a child for the soul betterment of an atheletic department. It does happen, but its not always the case.

You are putting a positive spin on the situation and are being, I believe, somewhat naive as to what has, is, and will continue to happen in high school sports- quite often in this district and region.

The rules for transfer are explicit in the KHSAA By-Laws. If those rules are indiscriminately applied to all schools, there is no problem- and a lot of these wholesale "relocations" wouldn't be taking place. However, the KHSAA does not enforce its rules indiscriminately. While all schools are said to be equal, some appear to be treated more equally than others.

Do we have schools in this area who have committed as many or more infractions than Fairview? Probably. Would they be punished as was Fairview? Not likely.

As Lefty Driesell, the old college coach, once said, "The NCAA was so mad at the tactics of Kentucky's basketball program that it put Cleveland State on probation for three years." That tends to be how it works.