GHSA “Items of Interest” October 2007 Some Changes for Reclassification This Time Around An Executive Director of another state high school association was asked what he was most looking forward to in his retirement and his answer was, “No more reclassifica- tion!” It is just about that time again in Georgia when schools are reclassified and placed in regions, and I understand his sentiments. Reclassification procedures would be less volatile if there were a consensus about the priorities in the process. There is general agreement that schools should compete against schools of “comparable” size. There is less agreement on what “comparable” means. There is strong agreement that travel time and time out of school for athletic events should be minimized, but many educators still view reclassification with the focus on how much chance there is to get to the playoffs. The task is to get the same number of schools of nearly the same size in regions that require little travel. That may be a hopeless task at this point. In order to attack this task, several new wrinkles have been added to the GHSA reclas- sification process. (The schedule for reclassification can be found on Page 2 of this edition.) Here are some of the changes that will be in effect from the fall of 2008 through the spring of 2010: 1. A public school’s FTE count for reclassification will be determined by averaging the spring 2007 count and the fall 2007 count. These numbers are expected to be released in late October. The GHSA member private schools submitted their current FTE counts in early September. If a new school is being built either in 2008 or 2009, the Superintendent in that system has projected the enrollments for the new school and for all existing schools affected by the opening of the new school through the 2009-2010 school year. 2. All schools with an FTE count of 1,850 or more will be placed in Class AAAAA All schools with an FTE count of 525 or less will be placed in Class A. Schools with FTE counts of 526-1849 will be divided equally among Classes AAAA, AAA, and AA. 3. There will be two alignments in class A – one will be for football only, and the other will be for all remaining activities. The rationale for these changes in the reclassification process are: 1. The largest and smallest schools have the greatest disparity in school populations within that classification. Placing hard numbers instead of a fluctuating percentage number will help keep the population difference in check to some degree. 2. A major problem in Class A occurs when regions are made large enough to have a reasonable number of football-playing schools, and then a larger number of non-football playing schools have to be included for all other sports. 3. By the end of the 2008-2010 cycle, it is estimated that there will be 420 member schools. At the beginning of the 2006- 2008 cycle, there were 394 member schools. The population growth is not occurring uniformly across the state. This presents problems with excess travel in order to play schools of comparable size. There will be excitement off the playing fields as well as on those fields for the next few months. – Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director GHSA Dues Must Be Paid By Oct. 15 School administrators are reminded that the deadline for paying GHSA membership dues is October 15th. An invoice for the dues can be found in the GHSA Forms Notebook. Page 2 GHSA “Items of Interest” October 2007 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Newsletter NEW Softball Hotel Procedure! Issued monthly, September through April, by the Georgia High Coaches of teams advancing to the State Softball Cham- School Association, P.O. Box 271, Thomaston, GA 30286 pionships October 25-27, at the South Commons Complex in Columbus are advised of a new hotel booking procedure for Phone: 706-647-7473 Fax: 706-647-2638 Web: www.ghsa.net this season. Once your team has qualified for the tournament, go to OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday www.columbusgasports.com to reserve rooms for your team. You will not be able to reserve or block rooms until you are Vol. 26 October 2007 No. 2 sent the access code after the Sectionals Oct. 19-20. You will click on “Softball” then “GHSA” then “Hotel Accommodations.” - GHSA STAFF - Your fans also can purchase pre-tournament tickets on the Areas of Responsibility same site. Simply click on “Softball” then “GHSA” then “Tick- RALPH SWEARNGIN (extension 7) ets” to make the purchases. - Executive Director - For questions, please contact Merri Sherman with the Administration, Interpretation of GHSA Rules, Sports Council at 706-225-3821. Hardship Appeals, Lacrosse, Volleyball GARY PHILLIPS (extension 6) - Assistant Executive Director - Student Eligibility, Community Coach Program, Reclassification Schedule Cross Country, Wrestling, Track, Golf There have been many questions e-mailed or phoned JOYCE KAY (extension 5) into the GHSA office concerning the upcoming process for - Associate Executive Director - reclassification of member schools for the 2008-10 school Finances, Entry Notification, Agendas, years. Listed below is the schedule for that process. Literary, One-Act Play, Debate, Cheerleading, Riflery Note: Exact dates for the meetings outlined below will STEVE FIGUEROA (extension 4) be determined after the Fall FTE counts are received from - Director of Media Relations - the Department of Education and the dates will be pub- Press Releases, Media Coordination for State Events, Newsletter, Football Schedules, Constitution, Calendar, Tennis lished on the GHSA web site and in future newsletters. JIM BULLINGTON (extension 33) BASIS FOR COUNT: - Technology Specialist - Web Page Supervision, Database Management, Technical Support Public Schools: Average of the Spring 2007 and Fall 2007 FTE counts PAM THOMPSON (extension 30) - Officials' Registrar - Private Schools: FTE count as of September 4, 2007 Officials' Registration, Test Scoring and Records (no multiplier used) DENNIS PAYNE (extension 23) - Associate Director - LATE OCTOBER: Football, Baseball, Swimming The GHSA office will send out numerical ranking of all mem- ber schools that delineates the five classifications. ERNIE YARBROUGH (extension 27) - Associate Director - Schools will have two weeks after receiving mailing to: Basketball, Soccer, Softball a) appeal the validity of the FTE count b) submit a written notice to “play up” into a higher TANYA ANDERSON (extension 2) - Administrative Assistant - classification Sanctioning of Events, School Passes, Directory, Coaches’ Clinic Attendance MID NOVEMBER: JULIE JONES (extension 1) 1. GHSA Reclassification Committee will meet to place - Administrative Assistant - schools in regions Dues, Community Coach Program 2. GHSA office will send out region alignments SHERI COKER (extension 0) 3. Schools will have two weeks after receiving mailing - Receptionist - to file an appeal for a lateral transfer to another region Lifetime Passes, School System Passes, Ejection Reports, Publication Orders MID DECEMBER: The GHSA Reclassification Committee will hear appeals New Marketing Partners regarding lateral transfers. Three new companies have joined the GHSA marketing pro- grams. Naturally Fresh, based in Atlanta, will be a champion EARLY JANUARY: sponsor as the official sauce and dressing provider of the GHSA. The GHSA Executive Committee will have a specially-called Two new licensees include, American Solutions for Business meeting to: (LaGrange) specializing in custom school promotional products a) hear appeals from the Reclassification Committee and Electro Mech Scoreboard Company (Wrightsville) a manufac- meeting turer of sports scoreboards. Check out the GHSA Store and a b) ratify the reclassification of schools for 2008-2010 full list of sponsors and licensees at www.GHSA.net October 2007 GHSA “Items of Interest” Page 3 STATE FARM UNVEILS NEW CHAMPIONSHIP HEADGEAR State Farm, the official awards presenter of the GHSA, unveiled a new headgear design that will be presented to the 2007-08 state champions. The new hats and visors will be produced by The Game, a veteran sports apparel company. “State Farm would like to thank GHSA for our continued partnership and we look forward to another great year with Georgia high school sports,” said Kari Butler, State Farm Marketing Manager. Scholar/Athlete & Scholar/Manager GHSA SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT Awards Forms Available Online Please insure that the following statement is read as a The Scholar/Athlete Awards Program and the Whitey public address announcement prior to the start of every GHSA Zimmerman Scholarship Program will be in place again this sanctioned contest: year, sponsored by Havoline, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foun- “The GHSA and its member schools have made a commit- dation, Gallagher Electric & Engineering Company, Inc., and ment to promote good sportsmanship by student/athletes, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of coaches, and spectators at all GHSA sanctioned events. Fame, Inc. The GHSA has been asked by these organizations Profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed to make the forms for these programs available to our member at officials or competitors will not be tolerated, and are grounds schools. for removal from the event site. Spectators are not allowed to Nomination forms are provided online at www.ghsa.net on enter the competition area during warm-ups or while the con- the “Football” webpage. The deadline to submit the forms to test is being conducted. Thank you for your cooperation in the your Region Secretary is November 1, 2007. promotion of good sportsmanship at today’s event.” Page 4 GHSA “Items of Interest” October 2007 Howard Named National High School Principal of the Year Molly P. Howard, principal of great work going on at Jefferson County essential learnings, and standards. Jefferson County High School, was re- High School. I know Molly shares this One decision the staff made, know- cently named National High School Prin- award with her outstanding teachers, staff ing that setting high expectations is a key cipal of the Year.