The board unanimously (16-0) rejected a proposal from Nazarene Christian Academy in New Bedford to join the MIAA, citing its low enrollment (23 students), its request to join in just one sport (basketball), and that some of administrators listed on the application did not have school email addresses.

It was a closer vote against Phoenix Charter Academy in Springfield, which failed to gain admission by an 8-7 margin, with one abstention. The primary concern was the school's low enrollment (130) and its ambitious list of potential sports, including football. Phoenix also listed a potential co-op with Bay State Academy, but it was unclear if Bay State had agreed to the arrangement.

"I don't know if we know enough about them as we should know," said Arlington Catholic athletic director Dan Shine. "In a couple of these cases, I think we're asking for trouble down the road. We're going to be in a mess."

The board discussed updating its application form with more detailed questions, as well as setting up in-person meetings and site visits with future applicants. It also was proposed that schools initially join on a probationary or provisional status.

"I would like to make a subcommittee that would look at this process," said Cambridge AD Tom Arria, who presided over his first meeting as board president. "[We need] a system where you have to earn a spot in our association and prove you understand, know, and abide by our rules."

The board did unanimously approve the use of backstroke ledges in swim meets. The NFHS rules committee approved them in April, and the MIAA swimming committee voted, 8-0, in June to adopt them for this school year.

The devices, which are lowered into the pool, give swimmers better grip with their feet and help prevent slipping. They would not be required and can only be used in pools with a depth of at least 6 feet. They cost $60-$725, but former Weston coach Peter Foley, a member of the NFHS swim rules committee, suggested that $200 versions would be appropriate for most schools.

Discussion centered around swimmers who won't be able to use them during the regular season being put at a disadvantage come the postseason.

"Is it an advantage? Yes," said Mt. Greylock AD Lindsey von Holtz. "But they can learn pretty quickly."

Other topics:

▪ Executive director Bob Baldwin touched briefly on some of the MIAA's over-arching projects, including a standardized calendar, adding more MIAA representatives to sport committees, an objective alignment process, the return of the Division 1A/Super 8 tournament ("That's a huge topic for us," he said), and locking in tournament venues earlier.

"There's no reason, and I challenged our people in the office, why don't we have our sites, locations, and venues out way in advance?" he mused. "It's important for people to know where they're going in advance. We need to do a better job of that."

▪ With Arria shifting to president, Malden AD Charlie Conefrey took over as vice president. He delivered the financial report, noting the MIAA netted $600,000 from tournaments during the 2024-25 school year, including $220,000 from the spring tournaments, which came in a little under the goal of $250,000, but Conefrey wasn't concerned. "We are in good spot," he said. "We overperformed in corporate sponsorship."

Conefrey noted the MIAA reduced its staff from 36 to 22. "That's as low as it should go," he said. "We are streamlined as much as we can be." He also cited a 2 percent increase in officials' pay, with swimming and gymnastics officials receiving higher raises.

▪ During a discussion about involving students in more MIAA decision-making, Baldwin cited a divide he'd seen between what matters most to students and coaches/athletic directors.

"Margin of victory is an issue if the adult makes it an issue," he said. "For 95 percent of the kids [asked], they didn't know what it was. A few said, 'My coach was really upset about this.' It's an adult issue where the kids aren't sitting there saying, 'We need to win by X.' "