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After Competitive Balance Proposal fails, what’s next in public-versus-private debate?
The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Competitive Balance Proposal failed on Tuesday, 332 votes to 303.
The previous vote on competitive balance came in 1993, when a referendum item to create separate public school and private school state tournaments was defeated 482-240.
The issue, though, likely won’t take another 18 years to get back to a vote. In fact, many officials believe a vote on some resolution for the public-versus-private issue could come as soon as next May.
Dave Rice, superintendent of Triway Local Schools in Wayne County, said he and other superintendents in that area “are probably prepared” to move forward with a petition to place a referendum on next year’s ballot to create separate public and private school tournaments.
The Wayne County superintendents began the events that created the Competitive Balance Proposal that was voted down Tuesday. Last year, they studied the frequency of private school state championships (45 percent of those played) and surveyed statewide superintendents about their possible support for separate state tournaments.
According to the Wayne County group, 72.5 percent of those surveyed said they would support separate tournaments.
Rice said Tuesday afternoon his group would likely meet before the end of the month to discuss the petition possibility.
“We’ve talked about doing another quick survey of the superintendents to gauge where they’re at now,” Rice said. “I want to try to do something that people feel is better than what we’re doing now, and that’s a legitimate concern.
“This vote was so close, which might indicate a lot of people out there who seriously want something else.”
A petition would require at least 75 signatures from member school principals, including at least six from each of the six OHSAA districts, and be submitted to the OHSAA office between Aug. 1 and Dec. 1.
Some private school officials have said they would consider forming a separate private schools association outside of the OHSAA if member schools approved separate state tournaments. To counter that possibility, some believe language in a separate tournament referendum would forbid public schools from playing non-public schools who are not OHSAA members in the regular season.
The OHSAA could also form another Competitive Balance Committee, like the 28-member body that created the current proposal. In the press release announcing the failure of the current proposal, Dan Ross, the OHSAA commissioner, said the OHSAA Board of Directors would decide whether to form another committee.
“Our Board of Directors will have to provide direction on whether to reconvene the OHSAA Competitive Balance Committee to review other ‘competitive balance’ options, so I cannot speculate on whether or not that possibility exists,” Ross said in a statement.
“At the same time, we’re also hearing that discussions to file a petition may be taking place by some member schools that are seeking to separate our tournaments totally between public schools and non-public schools. Again, whether that occurs or not, it’s too early to tell.”
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By Joe
May 17, 2011 11:58 PM | Link to this
Create separate public school and private school state tournaments! In sports, a level playing field is a good thing. With that in mind, D-1 still needs addressed.
By Dan
May 18, 2011 7:17 AM | Link to this
The private schools have a huge advantage.The only public schools that are o.k. with it are the large d-1’s that can overcome the situation with just pure numbers in available athletes
By Bob
May 18, 2011 9:26 AM | Link to this
I don’t think the privates have a huge advantage, we are better than that. If you ask the better players they will tell you to work hard, dedicate yourself and you will win. Be honest with your kids. I would be embarrassed as a parent to tell my kids they have no chance. Don’t kid yourself, that is what you are telling them.
By KJB
May 19, 2011 7:37 AM | Link to this
@Bob, I agree with Bob. Why lower standards and tell your kids that they can’t compete with private schools? This isn’t true at all. It’s true, private schools have some advantages regarding discipline and a student body that is generally more aware of their purpose in life. There is greater school spirit and the whole education process is linked to a Christian Philosophy. Students know this. This puts them one step ahead to where they can focus on other things. Most private school students come from good homes and are less distracted on the practice field. This leads to more wins. If this is really the situation, do you want the public school model to be the standard? I don’t think so!
By Eagle
May 19, 2011 2:53 PM | Link to this
If they separate then the Private schools will be able to offer full athletic scholarships because there will not be an OHSAA rule they will have to follow against it. That will create true recruiting not the accusations of recruiting that we have now. Good luck public schools when private schools can offer a free education like the public schools do now.
By JAT
May 19, 2011 5:50 PM | Link to this
Come on, let the student athletes have the previledge of playing the best of the best. Competition helps develop good character traits, helps motivate, allows students to work to accomplish something special. Oh, that is right lets just let little johnny be lazy and complacenet. Teach them that they do not have to work for anything that is truly worthwile.
By dr
May 21, 2011 12:24 AM | Link to this
The fact is that non-public schools have a major “athletic” advantage over public schools. Thank goodness people like Dave Rice are finally being openly honest and striving to clean up the mess. No, this isn’t just about football, it’s about all sports. Again, thanks Dave Rice!
By Eagle
May 21, 2011 11:28 PM | Link to this
So Fenwick has an “athletic” advantage over Middletown and Alter has an “athletic advantage over Centerville, Wayne, and Dunbar. Please describe the advantage that you are typing about but do not use quotes so we all know what you are typing.
By dr
May 22, 2011 1:05 AM | Link to this
Fenwick and Alter aren’t in the same division with Centerville, Wayne and depending upon the sport with Dunbar. The fact that the non-public schools can control their enrollments to lower or keep their divisional position indeed creates an “athletic” advanatage for the majority of non-public schools. Alter is a great example of this. How many of their athletes live in D1 school districts and if they attended those districts would be a D1 athlete? Don’t get me wrong, parents have a right to send their kids to a private school is they so choose. Especially if they feel they are going to receive a better education. However, let’s not deny why most parents send their student/athlete to a school like Alter vs. most of the D1 schools in the Dayton area.
By Eagle
May 23, 2011 4:36 PM | Link to this
dr you need to research before you make accusations that are absolutely false. No Catholic high school turns students away based on the athletic breakdown. First, that number changes every two years and with the economy those numbers vary dramatically each time they have been evaluated. The other obvious reason is that they need enrollment numbers to increase in order to stay open. If they do have a cut off point it is based on a set number or capacity of the building they use. If the private schools have an advantage it is that they expect to win, work to win, and they refuse to settle and except losing.
By Eagle
May 23, 2011 4:41 PM | Link to this
What are we denying about parent choices? By the way and very few of Alter’s athletes would struggle to compete at Fairmont for playing time.