GHSA Executive Committee approves proposal for Phillips' retirement at end of school year

The Georgia High School Association Executive Committee approved a proposal Monday to allow current executive director Gary Phillips to retire at the end of the current school year and pay his contract and benefits through the 2017-18 school year.

The committee originally denied the proposal, but after hearing from Phillips, a new proposal was made by the Executive Committee. Phillips urged the Executive Committee to allow his retirement to salvage the GHSA. At that point, a similar proposal to set up his retirement was approved unanimously.

The General Assembly has started legislation in both the House and Senate to establish an alternative to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).

Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, introduced House Bill 415, and state Sen. Bruce Thompson, R-Cartersville, initiated Senate Bill 203. The two bills were almost identical and basically called for the abolishment of the GHSA and establishment of a new governing organization.

Both chambers had previously indicated they would stop progress of the legislation if certain actions were taken by GHSA.

The removal of Phillips (photo right) as Executive Director was one of those steps.

The GHSA Board of Trustees must now meet in coming days to make a decision on the next steps for the high school governing sports organization.