Hamilton City board previews proposed NIL policy to limit district role in athlete endorsements

Hamilton City School Board members reviewed proposed adjustments to district policy on name, image and likeness (NIL) for student-athletes, with Director Mike Wright urging the board to keep district support organizations and the district itself out of student endorsement and monetization arrangements.

Wright told members that under the proposed language "no district support organizations shall engage in donation or fundraising activities to create name, image, and likeness or personal branding opportunities for student athletes" and that "everything that's done with this new NIL policy is between the student, the family, and the OHSAA." He said the district will also add related language to the athletic handbook and return handbook updates to the board in the spring.

Board members asked whether the language would prohibit activities tied to fundraising camps and whether coaches who receive fundraising-derived pay could be affected. Wright said existing language would likely prohibit school employees and board-approved volunteers from being compensated in ways that create individual sponsorships, and he agreed to work with legal counsel to refine the wording before the next meeting.

A board member noted recent state-level legislation introduced by Senator Byrd to prohibit NIL at the high-school level and asked the board to monitor developments. No formal vote was taken; Wright said the policy changes will come back to the board for approval in a future meeting along with handbook language.