OSSAA unanimously rejects third private school reclassification proposal

A third proposal from Blanchard superintendent Jim Beckham to reclassify private schools was shot down quickly on Wednesday. 

Beckham’s proposal, which would have seen all metro-area non-public schools who limit their enrollment reclassified to Class 6A-II, was voted down unanimously by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association at its monthly board of directors meeting. 

Before the vote occured, OSSAA executive director David Jackson floated the idea that a committee could be formed to take a look at Rule 14, which was written in 2011 to ensure competitive balance between non-public and public schools. 

“I expected it to get denied," Beckham said after the meeting. "What we want to do is keep the conversation going. It keeps it on the forefront and what David Jackson said is really the goal of this. Getting a committee to take a look at rule 14."

This was Beckham's third attempt at submitting a proposal to the OSSAA regarding reclassification of non-public schools, which Beckham defines as schools that control or limit their enrollment. 

His first proposal in February of 2018, saw the removal of all non-public schools for postseason play. That proposal was rejected 12-2. 

Beckham said despite the unanimous rejection, if a committee is formed to take a closer look then his efforts were successful. 

"This is something that shouldn't just be swept under the rug," he said. "I feel like we were successful today if it goes to committee."