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Monroe board delays decision on MHSAA membership after legal briefing on Supreme Court ruling
Summary
After a detailed legal briefing on implications of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Monroe Public Schools Board agreed to delay any vote on Michigan High School Athletic Association membership and to review district policies and logistics before deciding by the September deadline.
The Monroe Public Schools Board of Education spent much of its July 20 special meeting examining what membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) would mean for the district after the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling. Superintendent Shaw opened the discussion and reminded the board the session was for information and questions only; the board did not take action on membership.
During a legal overview, attorney Jeremy Chisholm told the board the Supreme Court had narrowly upheld state laws in 27 states that bar biological males from girls' sports, but he emphasized the ruling did not resolve how Michigan's Elliott Larson Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) should be applied to student athletics. "The decision of the Supreme Court was that those state laws are okay," Chisholm said, while adding Michigan's law includes gender identity language that has not been litigated in this student-sports context. He said MHSAA treats its waiver process as required by ELCRA, a legal interpretation he disputes.
Board members asked detailed operational questions about the district's ability to schedule regular-season games, substitute postseason offerings and secure officials if the district opted out of MHSAA. Administrators said regular seasons would continue, but opting out would forfeit all MHSAA-run postseason regionals and state tournaments and that no ready statewide alternative currently exists. Given logistics and the September opt-out deadline, the board agreed to gather more information — including the full MHSAA handbook and whether nearby districts intend to opt out — before voting.
Why it matters: The board's choice affects athletes' access to postseason competition and the district's control over policy on student participation in gendered sports. Trustees directed staff and counsel to return with policy-language options, and to report back on comparable programs, costs and any legal developments before the district reaches a decision.
