CHARGES. THAT CASE NOW MOVING FORWARD. GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, IN HIS FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, CALLED FOR THE END OF OSSAA. THE OKLAHOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION OVER SCHOOL SPORTS YESTERDAY. STATE SENATOR CASEY MURDOCK FILED SENATE BILL 1890. THIS IS BACKING THAT PUSH. KOCO PATRICK TALBOT SPOKE WITH MURDOCK AND IN OSSAA BOARD MEMBER ABOUT WHAT COULD BE A MAJOR SHIFT FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. YOU’LL SEE A LOT OF LEGISLATION FILED UP HERE, A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SCOPES A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE. STATE SENATOR CASEY MURDOCK FILING A NEW BILL IN THE OKLAHOMA SENATE THAT WOULD CREATE A NEW ENTITY THAT WOULD OVERSEE SCHOOL, SPORTS AND OTHER SECONDARY ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. THAT, IN TURN, WOULD ELIMINATE THE OSSAA, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ORGANIZING COMPETITION BETWEEN SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA SINCE 1911. THEY’RE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM FOR THE LEGISLATURE. SO IF THEY’RE GOING OFF THE TRACKS, IF THEY’RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. WE CAN ADDRESS IT. I KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT PERFECT, BUT WE ARE WORKING HARD ON THAT ORGANIZATION TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SENATE BILL 1890 ESTABLISHES THE OKLAHOMA ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION WOULD SEAT SIX PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS OR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, SIX PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS, AND SIX PRIVATE SCHOOL PARENTS SPLIT THREE EACH FROM LARGER AND SMALLER DISTRICTS. THAT COMMISSION WOULD CREATE COMPETITION RULES, DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENT ATHLETES, CREATE SCHEDULES FOR TEAMS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THE OSSAA ALREADY DOES. 482 SCHOOLS BELONG TO THE OSSAA, AND EACH OF THEM HAS A VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES. IT’S A MEMBERSHIP DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, EVERY EVERY SCHOOL HAS A HAS A VOTING MEMBER, HAS A VOTE. AND ALL OF OUR RULES AND POLICIES GO OUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP. WE GAUGE SUPPORT AND WE IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES. ONE BIG ISSUE LAWMAKERS HAVE WITH THE OSSAA, THE OPEN TRANSFER FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IF THEY WANT TO EXCEL IN ATHLETICS, THEIR OPPORTUNITY MAY BE BLOCKED BY AN UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATION. THE OSSAA. PUSHING BACK ON THAT NARRATIVE, I WAS TOLD, AND I BELIEVE I’M ACCURATE ON THIS, 93 OR 94% OF ALL TRANSFERS WERE APPROVED THIS PAST YEAR. WE’VE CERTAINLY BECOME MUCH MORE STUDENT FRIENDLY IN THE RECENT FIVE YEARS AS FAR AS ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY. AND A ONE TIME TRANSFER, THE OSSAA, RELEASING A STATEMENT ON MONDAY IN WHICH THEY SAY THAT ALL 482 SCHOOLS VOLUNTARILY JOINED THE ASSOCIATION AND THEY WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE GOVERNOR TO BETTER EXPLAI
Oklahoma governor calls for end of high school sports association
Gov. Kevin Stitt calls to end the high school sports association
Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for the end of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), leading state Sen. Casey Murdock to file Senate Bill 1890 to create a new entity overseeing school sports and activities in Oklahoma. “You’ll see a lot of legislation filed up here that’s a solution looking for a problem. This is a problem that scopes a lot of different issues for different people,” Murdock said.The bill proposes the establishment of the Oklahoma Athletics and Activities Commission, which would consist of six public school administrators or athletic directors, six public school parents, and six private school parents, split evenly between larger and smaller districts. This commission would take over responsibilities currently managed by the OSSAA, including creating competition rules, determining eligibility for student athletes, and scheduling teams.”They’re a private organization. We have… there is now accountability for them in the legislature. So if they’re going off the tracks, if they’re doing something wrong, we can’t address it,” Murdock said.Dr. Dudley Darrow, superintendent of Enid Public Schools and OSSAA board member, acknowledged the organization’s imperfections but emphasized their efforts to provide opportunities for students. “I know that the OSSAA is not perfect, but we are working hard within the organization to give opportunities for our students,” Darrow said.The OSSAA, which includes 482 Oklahoma schools, operates as a membership-driven organization where each school has a voting member. >> Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”It’s a membership-driven organization. You know, every school has a voting member, has a vote, and all of our rules and policies go out to the membership. We gauge support, and we implement the policies,” Darrow said.One major issue lawmakers have with the OSSAA is the open transfer policy for high school students. Gov. Stitt expressed concern that students’ athletic opportunities might be hindered by the association. “If they want to excel in athletics, their opportunity may be blocked by an unelected and unaccountable high school sports association – the OSSAA,” Stitt said.The OSSAA has pushed back against this narrative, with Darrow stating, “I was told, and I believe I’m accurate on this, but 93% or 94% of all transfers were approved this past year.” He added, “We’ve certainly become much more student-friendly in the recent five years as far as establishing eligibility and a one-time transfer. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterThere’s been great steps to get kids eligible.”The OSSAA released a statement on Monday, noting that all 482 schools voluntarily joined the association and expressing their willingness to meet with the governor to explain their operations.Top HeadlinesGet the Facts: What makes Greenland so valuable — and why President Trump is interestedOHP: At least 1 dead after crash shuts down part of I-240 in Oklahoma CityInvestigators find signs of forced entry at Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s homeSuspect arrested after leading Oklahoma City police on chase that ended in crash’We crushed it’: Midwest City strip mall swept up in multistate marijuana raid
Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for the end of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), leading state Sen. Casey Murdock to file Senate Bill 1890 to create a new entity overseeing school sports and activities in Oklahoma.
“You’ll see a lot of legislation filed up here that’s a solution looking for a problem. This is a problem that scopes a lot of different issues for different people,” Murdock said.
The bill proposes the establishment of the Oklahoma Athletics and Activities Commission, which would consist of six public school administrators or athletic directors, six public school parents, and six private school parents, split evenly between larger and smaller districts.
This commission would take over responsibilities currently managed by the OSSAA, including creating competition rules, determining eligibility for student athletes, and scheduling teams.
“They’re a private organization. We have… there is now accountability for them in the legislature. So if they’re going off the tracks, if they’re doing something wrong, we can’t address it,” Murdock said.
Dr. Dudley Darrow, superintendent of Enid Public Schools and OSSAA board member, acknowledged the organization’s imperfections but emphasized their efforts to provide opportunities for students.
“I know that the OSSAA is not perfect, but we are working hard within the organization to give opportunities for our students,” Darrow said.
The OSSAA, which includes 482 Oklahoma schools, operates as a membership-driven organization where each school has a voting member.
>> Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“It’s a membership-driven organization. You know, every school has a voting member, has a vote, and all of our rules and policies go out to the membership. We gauge support, and we implement the policies,” Darrow said.
One major issue lawmakers have with the OSSAA is the open transfer policy for high school students. Gov. Stitt expressed concern that students’ athletic opportunities might be hindered by the association.
“If they want to excel in athletics, their opportunity may be blocked by an unelected and unaccountable high school sports association – the OSSAA,” Stitt said.
The OSSAA has pushed back against this narrative, with Darrow stating, “I was told, and I believe I’m accurate on this, but 93% or 94% of all transfers were approved this past year.”
He added, “We’ve certainly become much more student-friendly in the recent five years as far as establishing eligibility and a one-time transfer.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
There’s been great steps to get kids eligible.”
The OSSAA released a statement on Monday, noting that all 482 schools voluntarily joined the association and expressing their willingness to meet with the governor to explain their operations.
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