News: Ad Hoc Playoff/Postseason Study Group Minutes - Joint Meeting with Redistricting and Reclassification Committee

(April 23, 2012) - Catch up on the latest VHSL realignment news by reading the full Ad Hoc Playoff/Postseason Study Group joint meeting meeting minutes with the Redistricting and Reclassification Committee from April 16:


Ad Hoc Playoff/Postseason Study Group Minutes
Joint Meeting with Redistricting and Reclassification Committee

Monday, April 16, 2012 – 8:30 a.m.
VHSL Office
I. Roll Call:  Chad Knowles, Central Region; Bruce Biehl, Eastern Region; Bruce Butler, Northern Region; Jim Stemple, Northwest Region; Ron Petrella, Region II; Crystal Worley, Region III; Mike Davidson, Region IV; Nat Elliot, Region A; Missy Shores, Region B; Stan Dunham, Region C; Tony Dodi, Region D.  Jeff Crook, Central Region; Mike Nichols, Eastern Region; Tim Thomas, Northern Region; David Cassidy, Northwest Region; Ronnie Lowman, Region I;  Major Warner, Region II; Stephen Leaman, Region III; Steve Spangler, Region IV; Stan Latham, Region A; Steve Barnett, Region B; Danny Knott, Region C; Larry Compton, Region D.  Executive Committee representatives, Tom Horn, Lee Brannon, Mark Dorsey, Susan Bechtol, Thomas Taylor.  VHSL Staff Ken Tilley, Joyce Sisson, Tom Dolan, Lisa Giles, Tom Zimorski and Lora Bickley (recording secretary). Also in attendance were Tony Bush, Region D Chairman, and Dwayne Peters, Heritage High School, Newport News, Eastern Region AD representative. Members absent:  Buddy Herndon, Dante Lee, Brenda Sheridan and Alvera Parrish.

II. Agenda Approval:  Steve Barnett moved, Mike Nichols seconded and the committee voted 22‐0 (Cassidy absent for vote) to approve the agenda as presented.

III. Minutes of February 6‐7 Meeting:  The minutes of the February 6‐7 meeting were approved as presented by consensus.

IV. Update on Six‐classification Initiative:  Executive Director Tilley reviewed the items noted below in regard to the process and progress of six‐classification initiative to date.
A. March Meetings, VIAAA Conference, Region Meetings and Strategic Planning
B. Preliminary Draft Conferences – MODEL ONLY (attached)
C. Participation by Classification (attached; posted April 13)
D. Six Classification Sport and Calendar Changes (attached; not yet posted)
E. Six Classification Activities and Calendar Changes (attached; not yet posted)
F. Six Classification – Forensics Options (attached; not yet posted)

V. Report of February 27 R&R Committee Meeting:  Executive Director Tilley noted that the minutes of the
February 27 meeting were attached along with the Modified Proposed 2013‐14 and 2014‐15 Alignment Plan – MODEL ONLY that incorporated changes approved at the February 27 meeting.

VI. Report of March Strategic Planning Mission Action Teams:  Principals and athletic/activities directors
invited from each district as well as at‐large representatives provided input on related critical issues
including Organization Structure and Governance, Programs and Services and Finances.

VII. Discussion of Issues:
Ad Hoc facilitator Lee Brannon asked the committee for any discussion items not noted in the agenda which
are included below:
1. Eastern Region is concerned with the governance of the conferences, especially decisions regarding
playoffs, and still has concerns over the finances of the conferences.
2. Region IV has concerns over governance in regard to conferences and role of the conferences.
3. Region A indicated that the role of the districts needs to be clarified and wonders if schools can pick
and choose within the district which schools to play in certain sports (Central Region also had that
concern with the smaller schools in the districts).  Note:  It was agreed that schools will be required
to schedule all other district schools that are within a three‐classification differential and could elect
to play or not play other district schools that exceed the three‐classification differential.
4. Region III expressed concerns with district tournaments and if districts opt to play a district
tournament do those games count toward contest limitations.  

A. Region Reports
Region A – There are some sport specific questions but no concerns regarding the six classes.
Region B – The region has not met but they are pleased with the six classes.
Region C – The region has not met but they are good with the six classes.  The smaller schools still have
                     concerns over the 475 cap.
Region D – Their region is good with the six classes and the items on the agenda will answer any
       concerns they may have.
Region IV – The region is on board and committee will place schools in appropriate
       districts/conferences.
Region III – Balance of conferences is a concern, as is equity and equity in advancing; with larger
       conferences travel is a concern and region recommends that there be consistent guidelines
        for finances and governance.
Region II – Question if the winner of the state semis in football would be the region champion.  Also
     concerns dealing with contest limitations, equity in regard to the conference numbers and
     conference  balance.
Region I – The region has not met, but they have a better understanding of the system since the
     presentation at the March meetings.  The region also had questions in regard to district
     tournament games counting in contest limitations.
Eastern – See concerns expressed in VII. 1.
Central – The region has concerns in regard to contest limitations; consider modifying Conferences 11
     and 12 for geography purposes; concerns over governance and when will the conferences
     begin to meet to select officers, begin talks concerning hosting events and provide contact
     information to all members.
Northern – The region is concerned with seeing the finished product and the timing of the six classes
   going into effect; Northern Region subsidizes one district and is concerned with the finances as    
   it relates to this district; would like to maintain the playing up provision and wonders will we      
   have region champions.
Northwest – The region is on board with the six classes; they do have issues with some conference
    assignments and balancing the conferences.

Steve Leaman moved, Chad Knowles second and the committee voted 21‐2 (Leaman and Davidson
voting no) that if districts have a district tournament, the games in that tournament do not count
toward the regular season contest limitations.  The district tournament must be played in a tournament
bracket or single elimination format – not a round robin – and can be held over Christmas or Spring
Breaks (during the season).  

Tim Thomas moved to allow schools to play up in the six‐classification model.  The motion failed for lack
of a second.

B. Review Conferences:  Jim Stemple voiced his concern over the fact that he is being asked to make
decisions for schools that he has no knowledge of and questioned why his school was placed in a
conference far removed from the other schools in his county thus requiring him to travel over 100 miles
one way for a conference game.  

Chad Knowles moved, Tim Thomas seconded and the committee voted 22‐1 (Stemple voting no) for the
Ad Hoc Playoff/Post Season Study Group and the R&R Committee to serve as an Ad Hoc Interim
Conference Committee to create a better working conference/realignment model.

David Cassidy recommended that staff send out a survey to schools asking them to determine key issues
of concern with the present model prior to the Ad Hoc Interim Conference Committee.  The Ad Hoc
Committee’s duties will be to work on the size of the conferences and to balance regions.

Steve Leaman moved, Steve Spangler seconded the committee voted 23‐0 to meet at the conclusion of
today’s meeting to make necessary/obvious adjustment to the current Conference Model.

C. Review Resources:  Participation by Classification information was shared and the comment was made
to keep in mind the smaller schools and the purpose of the six classes is to increase participation for
students and we don’t want to take away championships.  Tom Dolan will make adjustments in the
participation for volleyball and basketball and this document will be reposted.

Lisa Giles noted that Group AAA Theatre has been moved from spring to the fall.

The two options in regard to the State Forensics State Meet were reviewed by the committee.  It was
determined that staff should request feedback from the forensics coaches before voting on this issue.
This will be an agenda item for the Ad Hoc Interim Conference Committee.

D. Simplified Non‐Football Power Rating Scale:  This is the only model we have available at this time.  This
model will be used beginning in 2013 unless another scale is provided for review and approval.  This is
another item for Ad Hoc Interim Conference Committee.  Chad Knowles reminded the group that it was
brought up at the February meeting to use rSchoolToday for the basis of the ratings.  rSchoolToday can
assist schools in determining ratings as long as all schools are on board with rSchoolToday and post their
scores.

E. Timeline and Legislation:
May 3    Executive Committee will take second‐vote on the legislation in regard to using
March 31 ADM figures for classification purposes.
August 8 R&R Committee meets to align districts based on the March 31, 2012 ADM
figures.
September 11 R&R Committee meets to hear appeals to the August 8 R&R 2013‐14 and 2014‐
15 Alignment Plan and present final recommended plan to VHSL Executive Committee.
September 19* Executive Committee meets; reviews any final appeals of the September 11 plan
and approves plan;  votes on emergency legislation in regard to the six classes.
October 16 October Meetings:  The Group A, AA and AAA Boards will meet first, followed by
the six classes meeting in 12 regions (6A North, 6A South; 5A North, 5A South;
4A North, 4A South; 3A North, 3A South; 2A East, 2A West; 1A East, 1A West)
ending with the Membership Meeting.  

If the September Executive Committee votes to implement six classes, a
majority vote of any group board can request that the membership review any
legislative amendment; it would take 2/3 of the schools in attendance and
voting to overturn the Executive Committee’s decision at the Membership
Meeting.

*This is a change in the date announced at the meeting.

F. Finances, Governance, Unresolved Concerns:
Mark Dorsey moved, Steve Leaman seconded and the committee voted 4‐19 (Elliot, Latham, Shores,
Barnett voting yes) that all conference money be handled by the region treasurer and returned back to
all participating conference schools.  Thus the motion failed.

It was noted that the districts would continue to handle eligibility concerns.  Conferences would handle
playoff governance and finances.

The committee asked staff to provide a flow chart in regard to regional governance.
Steve Spangler asked that staff provide a digital map for the conferences.  This will be provided after
adjustments are made to the conferences from today’s meeting.

The Ad Hoc Interim Conference Committee will meet on May 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the VHSL office.

VIII. Business from the Floor:

Major Warner reported that Brentsville District would be willing to move from Conference 28 to Conference 27 in order to maintain balance.

The committee then broke into groups to adjust the current Conference Model (attached).

IX. Adjournment:  There being no further business, the committee adjourned at 1:30 p.m.