Still together

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association board on Wednesday voted down a proposal to have private and public schools compete separately in the postseason.

Blanchard superintendent Jim Beckham ended his remarks with a warning.

As Beckham presented his proposal to separate public and designated non-public schools during the playoffs to the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association board members on Wednesday, he ended by telling board members that this would not be the last they heard about the issue.

“We need to allow the membership to make these rules,” Beckham said. “We need to do it or someone is going to do it for us. I guarantee you that.”

Beckham’s proposal would have placed more than 30 private, magnet and charter schools in their own playoff system after competing in regular-season play with public schools.

The board voted to reject the proposal 12-2.

“I’m disappointed,” Beckham said. “I thought it was a fair solution.”

Beckham cited the continued success by several private schools since the board enforced a success modifier on private schools five years ago. Beckham specifically singled out Heritage Hall and the school’s 24 total state championships over the past five years.

“The domination of non-public schools over public schools is tangible, it is measurable,” Beckham said. “The success modifier has been an utter failure in terms of leveling the playing field.”

Private schools have won 84 of the 649 team championships since the OSSAA started using the “success multiplier” which equals 12.9 percent.

Heritage Hall athletic director Rod Warner said he was happy with the board’s decision.

“We are never going to apologize for the success we’ve had,” Warner said. “We are very proud of what we have done there and we will continue to be proud of that.”

OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson said Beckham’s proposal was not viable because it ended up excluding students from non-public schools

“This association’s board of directors have looked at lots of different things but exclusion is not one of them,” Jackson said. “I think the board sent the message that we should continue to look at how to make our competitive balance better but this particular proposal was not viable.”

With the proposal getting voted down, Beckham plans on seeking legislative action as a backup plan to get the change he wants.

“At this point the membership is not controlling the rules and so somebody else has to make the rules,” Beckham said. “That might be the legislature and I don’t want that but what choice is there?”

Board votes to table summer dead period

The OSSAA board of directors voted against sending out a proposal for membership schools to vote on regarding a summer dead period.

A dead period would prohibit contact between coaches and students as well as keep athletes from participating in any school related athletic training, conditioning or practice for a two-week period during the summer.

The motion by the board, which was voted down 9-5, will be readdressed at a later meeting.

Jackson said the board wants to be able to provide more clarity before sending the ballot out to member schools.

“Right now it just seems like there’s still some confusion on what they are voting on,” Jackson said. “This is just part of the process.”