Comments on: Class 7A discussion on OSSAA Board agenda for Wednesday

By: BringitON

BringitON — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:15:01 +0000

Adding another class (7A) is not the solution to this issue. There are other options here but please don’t add another class.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:48:27 +0000

Self-reported typo: School, obviously, not “scool.”

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:46:56 +0000

Six years after the formation of Class 7A, when Jenks and Union have won six more championships between them, a demand will rise for creation of Class AAAAAAAA, with only 8 schools, so that the 8 “smallest” schools in 7A will have a chance to win something. Six years after that ….

The lamest argument is KKM’s statement, “The real shame is the lack of opportunity a school that big fails to provide for the rest of their students.” I have read many others make this contention, as well. People outside of the Jenks and Union districts don’t give a rat’s patootie about the opportunities for kids in those schools – they just want “their” school to win football games. Heck, patrons of A, 2A and 3A districts could make the same argument about every 5A and 6A school, regardless of athletic success. So every school should be limited to 350 students?

Having a single high school allows a concentration of resources not possible after a second, or third, school is opened. Next time you get a chance, go by the Jenks High Scool campus and take a look at the college-level math and science and music buildings – not possible if the finite amount of money in the district had to be split among multiple schools.

All five of my kids have attended Jenks schools, and none of them has ever been prevented in participating in any activity they were interested in for any reason, much less school size, but thanks so much for your concern about my kids.

By: Kona

Kona — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:08:25 +0000

Sorry for the spelling, should have proofed – it’s late!!!

By: Kona

Kona — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:05:27 +0000

Lisa has vision while KKM’s cup is half-empty. As a Union parent who formerly lived in Edmond, I want my daughter in the Union District which is full of opportunity – like the band being invited to the 2013 Macy’s Parade, like the stellar performing in broadway like performances in the performing arts center, like traveling to Ohio, Texas, etc. if she makes the football team, and like attending the newly constructed collgiate academy with college credits as noted by Lisa. Union is 41% white, 10% Indian, 16% Black, 25% Hispanic, and 8% Asian. The only growth has been Hispanic. Union is landlocked unlike many other school districts – it would be absurd to split the district for so many reasons I can’t list them in this response – and most importantly, an overwhelming majority of parents don’t want it split. Personally, I wish Union, Jenks, BA, Owasso and several other East schools would withdraw from the OSSAA and form a Tri-state division with Western Arkanas (Ft. Smith, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale) and SE Missouri schools (Joplin and Springfield)

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:35:13 +0000

This all sounds like poor sportsmanship to me. Of course west side schools (or anyone else) would want to play in a league of 16. Only 16 teams even make the playoffs. That’s a no brainer.

KKM- if parents saw things the same way- why would they continue to flock to these incredible districts? I can tell you why. They have the highest graduation rates in the state. Union graduated all but 8 of their nearly 1100 students. Of the almost 1100 that graduated 40% graduated with college credit. And union is now close to 50% free and reduced lunch. It isnt the wealthy kids everyone seems to think. Why segregate campuses, resources, talented teachers (especially when there’s no $ to pay more teachers) when academically things are turning out better than the ultra wealthy Edmond schools? Isn’t that the true goal of our schools?

If the west wants to compete- copy their programs.

By: Guru53

Guru53 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:02:09 +0000

Here is what I don’t understand…Two “problems” if you will:

Class being dominated by 2 schools: JENKS AND UNION

PC WEST and US GRANT cannot compete….

Well 7A solves neither of these two perceived problems. Jenks and Union will still dominate and PC West and US Grant couldn’t’ win games in any class..

By: kkm

kkm — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:20:24 +0000

7A doesn’t change anything at the end of the day. Local school districts have the latitude to make their schools as large as they want and no one will take that away from the East. The real shame is the lack of opportunity a school that big fails to provide for the rest of their students. Unlike at the numerous West schools, 22 kids never got the opportunity to develop as starters on the North Jenks football team this year, an otherwise outstanding student never got elected class president at BA Central, a handful of otherwise deserving kids never got to represent East Owasso in the Academic Bowl, etc. If you truly want parity, make all schools the same size so the population and relative resources are equal. As this will never happen, some schools will game the system forever so the cream of their wide talent pools win championships every year – but, IMHO, at the long term detriment of the rest of their students. Any motivation to change that will have to come from within their local communities to provide more opportunity for their kids overall.

By: Scott Wright

Scott Wright — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:53:32 +0000

Sam, I think you’re dead on. It doesn’t change anything for the teams that end up in 7A. The only slight advantage the west teams gain in this is that the east teams will have to travel to OKC more often, which might wear them down over the course of the year and make them more vulnerable in the postseason. Otherwise, the only difference is that fewer teams would be affected by the Jenks/Union dominance.

-Scott

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:41:24 +0000

If I’m understanding the proposal correctly, the only teams that would really benefit would be the smallest 16 6A schools. I don’t believe it would change the outcome of the larger 16 schools assuming Jenks and Union continue their current streak . In this day and age however, I could see a school district suing to attempt to have the Union/Jenks/Broken Arrow/Owasso, etc., school districts break up. This is a made-for-TV in the making.