A Centre County lawmaker wants to restore fairness to the state’s scholastic sports system, calling on the agency that oversees it to change the way season-ending playoffs are scheduled.

State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-77, chaired a meeting of the House Commerce Committee recently to discuss House Bill 1983, a measure he sponsored that would mandate the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to create separate sports playoff systems for boundary and non-boundary schools.

If Conklin’s proposal is accepted, the PIAA would vote on whether it could put in place separate postseasons for public schools that have established boundaries and for schools that are Catholic, private or charter schools that have no geographic limits.

For the last 50 years, schools like Marian Catholic, Nativity BVM and others have competed against local public schools in the region in various sports during the season. They’ve played schools of similar enrollment for district titles and moved on to inter-district play for a state championship crown.

A Lehigh Valley lawmaker was the driving force behind the change.

As early as 1956, then-Rep. Samuel Frank, a Democrat from Allentown, introduced similar legislation that caught heavy opposition from the PIAA. That proposal covered all non-public schools, including the Philadelphia Catholic schools.

In 1972, the measure was changed to include only those non-public schools that played in leagues against public schools. By 1974, the Pennsylvania Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association, was all but gone as most of its members opted into the public school competition.

Many of the small schools, especially the Catholic and private ones, got statewide exposure when playoff and championship time came.

Some interesting rivalries formed, but the number of smaller, non-boundary schools was dwindling as the Catholic Church began to close parishes - and subsequently the schools they operated. Instead, students seeking a religion based education went to larger, consolidated schools that could draw students and student athletes from a larger area.

That ability offered many young men and women athletic opportunities that would eventually turn into college via their sports prowess.

Sometimes, parents were quick to route their children toward these opportunities that brought more chances at sports scholarships rather than leaving them to languish in poorly funded and equipped public schools.

With that came allegations of the private schools seeking “transfer” students that later became charges of recruiting top athletes from the public school system.

For a few years, the private schools were regular participants in postseason play, ultimately winning state championships in years-long streaks. This year, nine non-boundary schools won all but three of the girls’ and boys’ basketball championships.

Enter Scott Conklin and his recent proposed legislation.

After a scholastic sports season that ended with many of the state football championships won by non-boundary schools, Conklin wants to level the playing field.

At a media event, he addressed the PIAA. “You have the authority to do this. You got a boundary small school playing against a national all-star team. Competition is important and competition is about playing on a level playing field.”

Conklin has said that by allowing public schools to compete against larger, more powerful teams recruited by private schools, the PIAA is putting public school student athletes at a huge disadvantage before they set foot on a field.

“It’s a system that sets kids up for failure, sends the wrong message and - worst of all - exposes them to the risk of serious injury,” he said.

He said separating the playoffs wouldn’t hurt a spirit of competition, but would make sure the contests were on a level playing field.

But the PIAA is holding fast, saying it’s only abiding by the 1972 law signed by then Gov. Milton Shapp that created the current situation.

He says the same law gives the PIAA authority to make the changes he seeks. Conklin alleges the current setup is not fair and teaches children it’s OK to buy a title.

To some degree, Conklin and his cohorts past and present have allowed that to happen.

Though private schools get some federal funds, many benefit from state-condoned tax relief via income credits granted to taxpayers in addition to tuition charges.

The school funding issue has logjammed any movement forward on improving Pennsylvania’s education system, the bulk of which consists of non-athletes.

To be sure, athletics is an important part of a well-rounded education. But education isn’t always about winning. It’s about gaining knowledge that benefits a young mind in years ahead.

Perhaps Conklin and his fellow legislators might be better served trying to find a workable funding compromise to level the playing field for the state’s poor boundary-shackled school districts.

And teach the state’s students a real lesson in fairness.

ED SOCHA | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.