The change is effective immediately, but several other issues related to this change will be forwarded to the constitution and bylaws committee for further research and study. One of those is adding a representative from charter schools to the board of trustees and the other is an overhaul of the co-op rule, which was written many years ago to allow students to attend another school if his or her school didn't offer certain athletic opportunities.

In other action:

GIRLS GOLF: The board took no action on an appeal from a parent to allow girls who were already participating in co-ed golf to continue playing with their male counterparts. Park City resident Sue Crouch has a 15-year-old daughter who is a very competitive golfer and asked for the exemption after girls golf was sanctioned as a separate sport this spring. Because the state now offers girls golf, girls will not be allowed to participate on the boys teams.

"These girls are ages 14 to 16 or 18 and most haven't even played the game long enough to warrant being asked to give something back," said Jeff Thurman, executive director of the Utah Junior Golf Association. "In their opinion, something has been taken away from them. Grandfathering these girls in would be a welcome gesture on your part."

Crouch said those girls who want to continue playing with the boys are willing to use the male tees. If the players couldn't be grandfathered in, Crouch asked that the state reconsider the decision to make girls golf a sanctioned sport and instead allow it to be a club sport for at least another year.

PGA officials opposed the petition and said this affects less than a half dozen female golfers.

"Five girls on average make it to the state tournament," said Scott Whittaker, director of the Utah section of the PGA. "I don't think any of you can say this isn't the start of something better."

PGA officials had more than 90 girls participate in a spring club program last year, and they estimate about 130 will play the sport, which is scheduled for spring competition.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com