NIAA sets timetable to fill top position

Current executive director Eddie Bonine has been hired in a similar position by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. His final day with the NIAA is March 6.

During its meeting in Reno, the NIAA board voted to officially post the position on Tuesday. Applications will be due by Feb. 6, with finalists announced Feb. 12.

Paul Anderson, the NIAA’s legal counsel, will be the search chair and will trim the list of applicants to no more than five finalists. Those finalists will go in front of the board during an open meeting Feb. 17 at a site to be determined.

The new executive director will be announced Feb. 27 during the state athletic director conference, which is held in conjunction with the state basketball tournament each year.

NIAA assistant director Donnie Nelson said the search will be open nationwide, but the board decided not to use an outside search firm. One such firm told Anderson the cost of a national search would exceed $50,000.

“The board shied away from that for that reason,” Nelson said. “The board feels there are plenty of qualified applicants both in Nevada and outside Nevada. The board feels like it will get an outstanding representation of applications of applicants to satisfy any fears about having enough qualified individuals.”

The board also set the requirements for the position.

Applicants for the executive director’s position should have a master’s degree or better in Educational Administration or a related field, or have spent at least 15 years working for a state association office.

The latter qualification would open the position for Nelson, who started with the NIAA in April 1998.

There are no qualifications listed for the executive director’s position in the Nevada Administrative Code or Nevada Revised Statutes, the rules that govern the NIAA. When Bonine replaced Jerry Hughes in 2007, the job posting listed a master’s degree as a requirement. But in a special meeting in January, Bonine urged the board to consider current state assistant directors who may not hold such degrees if they have at least eight years of experience as assistant director.

The board set the salary range for the new executive director from $120,000 to $145,000. Bonine’s salary was just more than $150,000, but included a $10,000 car allowance and an $1,800 longevity stipend.

In other news from the board meeting, Clark principal Jill Pendleton was elected as the board’s president effective at the next board meeting.

Lisa Ruggerio of the Washoe County School District was elected vice president.

The board decided not to take action on an item regarding adding a marketing and social media coordinator to the NIAA office.

“They decided to hold the position until a new executive director is in place and let that person champion that position,” Nelson said.

The board approved a realignment committee, which will be chaired by David Wilson, an assistant chief student achievement officer for the Clark County School District. That committee is expected to meet as soon as next month.

The board also took no action on moving Quest Academy from Division IV to Division III for next school year.

Quest’s enrollment on count day this fall was above the Division IV ceiling of 169. But some have raised questions about competitive balance even with Division III schools. Quest’s girls basketball team outscored two Division IV Southern League opponents 138-25 last week. The boys team also rolled to two wins, including an 88-18 drubbing of Sandy Valley.

Contact reporter Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow him on Twitter: @DamonSeiters.