OSSAA & Legislative Updates

OSSAA Update June 28, 2023

Dear Bishop Kelley Community Members,

At the OSSAA Board Meeting on June 7, 2023, the OSSAA Board approved sending a Rule 14 modification ballot to member schools for a vote. The ballot with recommended adjustments to Rule 14 was sent to all OSSAA member schools on Monday, June 12, 2023. On Monday, June 26, 2023, the results were released and the OSSAA-recommended adjustments have passed:

1. Success will be defined as finishing in the Top 4 of an activity (instead of Top 8)
2. A non-public school will continue to move up additional classifications with sustained success. The lone exception would be football which can only move up two classifications beyond the school's natural ADM (currently a "bump up" can only be one classification).
3. The cap will be removed off of 5A. All non-public programs would have the ability to move into 6A with success or sustained success. The exception is football which will cap at 6A-II.
4. The program that moves down in each activity will be a public school based off of a lack of success over the same 2-of-3 year period (currently, the program that moves down is based solely off of size and can be a public or non-public school).
5. In coupled sports (cross country, soccer, track, and 5A/6A basketball), both the boys and girls teams will move up if one of the programs meets or continues to meet the success criteria.
6. Non-public programs that move up a class based on success will move back down if they don't meet the success criteria of Top 4 in the new classification in 2-of-3 years.

The initial outcomes of this rule will take effect in the 2023-24 school year. This means that non-public school programs across the state will be moved up based on their success over the past three years. For Bishop Kelley, this newly impacts 10 of our programs: cross country, track, soccer, baseball, golf, and swim (boys only) programs - moving them to 6A for the next two years based on success. Our tennis and volleyball programs already compete in 6A. Although the competition level in the highest classification in the state is elite, Bishop Kelley coaches, athletes, and staff have always risen to challenges in the past and continue to represent our school and mission in exemplary ways. We are committed to doing everything in our power to give our coaches and athletes the resources they need to continue to perform at a high level.

Though the rule change brings with it a new level of challenge for many of our coaches and teams, we appreciate the opportunity to continue to compete with all of our school counterparts, public and private, in both the regular season and OSSAA playoffs. This opportunity to avoid separation was aided through your efforts reaching out to state legislators last spring about HB 1040. 

On a separate note, I am very pleased to share that there was an additional vote at the same OSSAA Board Meeting on June 7th that will be of interest to the Bishop Kelley Community: the Board voted unanimously for Bishop Kelley Athletic Director Lance Parks to serve as a voting Board Member. Mr. Parks will fulfill the remainder of Board Member Darren Melton’s term as an At Large Appointment as Athletic Director to the Board. Mr. Melton, Broken Arrow’s former athletic director, stepped down from the Board after accepting the position as Superintendent of Lincoln Christian. Mr. Parks has experience in public and private schools, and  served on the Rule 14 Committee on two different occasions.  Mr. Parks’ board appointment begins in July 2023 and will continue through June 2025. He joins 14 public-school superintendents who are elected board members.

We welcome your comments, questions and concerns via the form at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for your continued support of BK and our student athletes! 

Yours in Christ,

Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM

President

OSSAA Update March 3, 2023

We are grateful for the outpouring of response and support as a result of our February 9 communication regarding the "Possibility for a New Limitation on BK Athletic Opportunities." The current status of HB 1040 has not changed since its introduction on February 6. It is still in the House Education Committee and has advanced no further. Many of our community members answered our call to action to reach out to the authors of HB 1040 and Chairwoman Rhonda Baker, and there is no question that your voice was heard. Thank you for advocating for our student-athletes' opportunities to participate in scholastic athletics.

Additionally, the same communication on February 9 gave notice of the decision by the OSSAA Board of Directors to send out a vote to OSSAA member schools for a rule change that would remove private schools from all OSSAA-sanctioned playoffs held for public schools. That vote was originally scheduled to go out electronically on February 20, to the voting delegates of each member school in Oklahoma. However, the OSSAA Board chose to delay that vote until after their regularly scheduled March 22 meeting where they will discuss the specific language of the ballot.

Bishop Kelley remains as firm in its commitment to the stated mission of the OSSAA as we were when we joined the Association in 1967. Scholastic athletics provide an extraordinary platform for our students to learn valuable life lessons and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. OSSAA membership also provides a critical opportunity for our community to come together with a diverse set of schools from across the state -- public, private, rural, and urban -- to share our love for competition and sportsmanship. Although the direction of the current OSSAA board has elicited a great deal of concern and uncertainty for OSSAA member non-public schools across the state, be assured that we are working diligently and responsibly to advocate for Bishop Kelley students, programs, and community for both current and future students.

Dear Bishop Kelley Community,

I write to bring your attention to two items that have been in the discussion phase for quite some time. They are now approaching legislative and athletic association decisions that will significantly alter athletic playoffs as Bishop Kelley has known them thus far. A full background can be found at www.bishopkelley.org/ossaa. This letter is both informational and requests your help.

Summary:

Since 1967 Bishop Kelley High School has enjoyed the camaraderie, competition, and in many cases, success as a full member within the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA). However, there is now a movement within the OSSAA to remove the possibility of any private school from playing with their public counterparts.

Background:

The OSSAA’s Mission states the OSSAA will provide for equitable participation opportunities and positive recognition to students as a whole, while working cooperatively with schools to enhance the achievement of desired educational goals. Along with 23 other private schools, Bishop Kelley joined the OSSAA with a commitment to education-based athletics, acceptance  of OSSAA’s Mission, adherence to the OSSAA’s rules and guidelines, based on school size and program success and a willingness to approach in good faith to work together to solve problems and issues as they arise. In Fall 2022 the OSSAA Board more prominently raised the question of separating public and private participation in athletic playoffs. At yesterday’s board meeting (2.8.23), the OSSAA Board passed a motion to send a vote to the 478 OSSAA member schools if the 24 private schools should be in their own playoffs.

New Legislative Proposal:

In the same spirit of the OSSAA Board vote is a more pressing issue: A new bill, HB 1040, is being introduced to the State Legislature. Sponsored by Representatives Randy Randleman and Brad Boles and Senator Dewayne Pemberton, this bill’s summary seeks a separation of public and private playoffs, regardless of OSSAA full-member status.

HB 1040 seeks to add separation of private schools within the OSSAA, which is in direct contradiction with the OSSAA mission statement (above.) If passed, this will begin a division that could bring a significantly negative impact to our student athletes.

This would:

• Potentially sequester private schools to their own playoff pool, regardless of performance throughout the regular season. 
• Allow for separation of schools based on admission criteria, not school size.
• Diminish the level of competition at the playoff level. This means that BK’s playoff competition would be only against other like-sized private schools of which there is one: McGuinness.
• With the drastic difference in sizes of the 24 private member schools, there is potential for increased student safety risks.

How you can help - We need your voice!

If you agree that private and public schools should remain in playoffs together, I urge you to contact the following officials to share your concerns/opposition to House Bill 1040:

Representative Rhonda Baker

Chairwoman of the House of Education Committee

rhonda.baker@okhouse.gov

405.557.7311

Representative Randy Randleman

HB 1040 Sponsor

randy.randleman@okhouse.gov

(405) 557-7375

Representative Brad Boles

HB 1040 Sponsor

brad.boles@okhouse.gov

(405) 557-7405

Senator Dewayne Pemberton

HB 1040 Sponsor

dewayne.pemberton@oksenate.gov

(405) 521-5533

It is our firm belief that schools which are full members of the OSSAA, whether public or private, should continue to have equitable competitive student experiences. Historically, private school OSSAA members have worked with the OSSAA to ensure a level playing field exists in all sports, as demonstrated through our willingness to work within the all guidelines established by the OSSAA. It is our sincere hope that each Bishop Kelley student--along with students in all OSSAA member schools--will continue to have equitable access to competitive athletic activities, as part of the formation of their whole person in a holistic, Catholic High School education that develops individuals whose hearts and minds are prepared for a purposeful life. 

Yours in Christ,

Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM, President, Bishop Kelley High School

Lance Parks, Athletic Director, Bishop Kelley High School

Should you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please:

email athletics@bishopkelley.org and use the contact form below.

Contact Form