(7-17-24) Below are some of the interesting items from the June 7th, 2024 OHSAA Board of Directors meeting. It might also be noted that a June 30, 2024 (Special Meeting) minutes that was added to the listing of minutes for the first time. Approved at the June 7th meeting a May 22, 2024, Board of Directors Special Virtual Meeting that had minutes approved…they are not available on the web site.

The streak continues for the Board, once again every item on the agenda was approved unanimously…have been unable to find the last time a member voted against an item.

COMPLETE: OHSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES (June 7, 2024)

The non-profit OHSAA has an abundance of finances to work with. Which includes $9 million in investments.

OHSAA Financial Report Through April 30, 2024
Senior Director of Finance Laura Vermilya provided the financial report through April. The OHSAA currently has $10.3 million of operating cash; $9.1 million in investments and board designated funds, and $19.5 million in total funds. The latter amount can cover 10.4 months of expenses, and she projects that figure to be at nine months when the fiscal year ends July 31. Ms. Vermilya said the year to date expenses for the fiscal year were better than budget and revenues were above budget. The financial report is summarized as follows:

Update on Tournament Travel Stipends for Team Sports

Senior Director of Finance Laura Vermilya said the Executive Director’s Office recommended that the OHSAA provide an additional $250 per qualifying contest to each school that is already receiving a travel stipend for tournament participation in team sports during the 2023 24 school year. The checks for those schools eligible for the stipend would be mailed this month. The cost to the OHSAA would be $268,500, bringing the total travel stipends awarded during the 2023 24 school year to $1.7 million.

Two schools were denied OHSAA membership despite going through a probationary period, the schools are not mentioned in the minutes. No details on why they were not approved other then they did not meet a constitution requirement. It is not mentioned if the schools had contact with OHSAA officials or a mentor to help during the process.

Recommendation on New Member Schools for the 2024 25 School Year Staff member Alexis Holderman reported that two high schools have applied for membership and have gone through the probationary period as required, but it has been determined that the schools have not met the requirements of Constitution Article 3, Section 2. Therefore, it is recommended that the schools not be approved for membership for the 2024 25 school year, although they could be considered in the future.

Initial Membership

Note: Requirements for initial membership may be waived in the event that a public school district closes a current member school(s) and then reopens a school or multiple schools under different names and IRN’s. Participation opportunities for students attend-ing the new school(s) shall be addressed within the business rules of the OHSAA as well as state law.

3-2-1 A prospective member school shall submit an Application for Membership on which a prospective member school shall declare its one-year prospective period. During that prospective period, the school shall be required to submit documentation corroborating the certifications on the Application for Membership, as set forth in Article 3-2-2, that will be submitted at the completion of the prospective period.

3-2-2 The Application for Membership, on the form prescribed by the OHSAA, must be completed and signed by the superintendent of the school district (or the person acting in a similar capacity for any non-public school) certifying that with respect to its student-athletes and sports programs, the school has conformed with all bylaws and regulations of the OHSAA for a minimum period of one year immediately prior to the date of application, in accordance with Article 3-2-1.

3-2-3 The applicant must be able to certify that it has sponsored at least two 7th-8th grade and/or varsity “recognized sports” (per Bylaw 1-5-1) per sports season in the year immediately prior to the date of application and that it intends to continue with its sponsorship of at least two recognized sports upon becoming a member of the OHSAA. Sponsorship of a 7th-8th grade and/or varsity recognized sport means that the school conducts competition in a minimum of 50% of the maximum allowable regular season contests in each sport. Furthermore, the applicant must certify that it intends to and actually shall participate in the OHSAA-sponsored tournaments for at least two of the sports for which applicant provides sponsorship..

3-2-4 The Board of Education or similar governing body must adopt a resolution authorizing membership for all prospective 7th and 8th grade schools and/or high schools seeking membership under its jurisdiction. When a new school is opened in a multi-high school/7th-8th grade school district or system, the superintendent or principal must request membership for that school using the form prescribed by the OHSAA. In this situation, initial membership requirements set forth in Article 3-2-1 may be waived.

Conversely, when a non-member school in a multi-high school/7th-8th grade school district desires to seek membership in the Association after having been a non-member school for at least one year, that school shall fulfill the requirements of initial membership as outlined in Constitution Articles 3-2-1 and 3-2-2.

One violation for recruiting was during the appeals process.

Mississinawa Valley’s girls basketball coach violated Bylaw 4 9 4 #3, Recruiting, when they engaged in verbal and electronic communication with a student and their family who was enrolled at a different school. After an investigation, it was determined that the contact between the coach and the athlete/family was mostly related to the coach’s capacity as a non interscholastic team coach, but the setting
and nature of the contact was still determined to be prohibited. In accordance with Bylaw 11, Penalties, the Executive Director’s Office accepted Mississinawa Valley’s corrective action plan, issued a reprimand and advised that future offenses would lead to harsher penalties.

The Blackhawks (21-6) had one of the schools most successful seasons this past year…for the first time in school history, they were District Champions.

Portsmouth’s girls basketball coach violated OHSAA Media Regulation B when she made derogatory public comments directly to the media regarding the official(s) of a state tournament contest. In accordance with Bylaw 11, Penalties, the coach was publicly reprimanded and any future violations of such a nature will result in harsher penalties.

New London had a student athlete in football violated Bylaw 4 3 1, Enrollment and Attendance, when they participated in regular season contests without being enrolled in and attending New London full time. Further, the student did not meet the requirements of any of the enumerated exceptions codified within Bylaw 4 3 1. In accordance with Bylaw 10 2 1, Forfeitures, New London was required to forfeit any contests in which the ineligible student athlete participated.

No mention if the ruling affected computer points that might have changed match-ups in the region.

FUTURE MEETINGS
2024 25 School Year: August 29, 2024; September 26, 2024; October 24, 2024; January 16, 2025; February 20, 2025; April 24, 2025, and June 13, 2025 (8:30 at Canal Park in Akron)