A New Jersey lawmaker wants to get rid of the association that administers high school sports

New Jersey Assemblyman John Burzichelli wants to introduce a bill that would replace the state school athletic association, the NJSIAA, with something that works better. The State Commission of Investigation has recently criticized the NJSIAA for its fiscal practices.

The State Commission of Investigation is critical of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for excessive spending and inadequate controls over its accounting practices.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli says the NJSIAA is an out of control group and he wants to make a change. He’s introducing legislation to have the state School Boards Association take over the administration of interscholastic sports.

“The rulebook will stay the same. The games will stay the same,” he says. “You won’t notice a difference other than the fact that all this constant harangue about trying to raise ticket prices so they can continue to pay for this lavish lifestyle will no longer be necessary.”

Burzichelli says having the School Boards Association administer the sports program would cut down oversight costs and could save school districts almost $800,000 in the first year of the change that he hopes can take effect next September.