Northeast Ohio school leaders are pushing a petition to separate public and private high school state tournaments across Ohio.
The effort, led by superintendents, principals and athletic directors in the Suburban League, needs 75 principal signatures by December to place the question on the OHSAA's May 2027 referendum ballot, WCPO 9 reporter Mike Dyer first reported Tuesday, Sept. 15. Five signatures from each of the Ohio High School Athletic Association's six athletic districts are required. If the referendum passes, separate tournaments would begin in the 2028-29 school year.
The petition came up at the OHSAA's Southwest District regional update meeting Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Cincinnati Princeton High School. That session was the last of six statewide meetings the OHSAA held to brief administrators on the new school year.
Local impact
Loveland and Milford are both public schools competing in mixed-field OHSAA postseason brackets. Under the current system, public and private schools are grouped into the same tournament divisions. A "competitive balance" policy adopted in May 2014 adjusts placement based on actual roster composition in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball and volleyball. That policy took effect in the 2017-18 school year.
If the petition qualifies and the referendum passes, Loveland Tigers and Milford Eagles teams would face only other public schools in postseason play starting in 2028-29. The OHSAA currently counts 691 public and 121 non-public member high schools.
Previous attempts
Separation is not a new idea.
OHSAA members voted down similar petitions in 1978 and 1993. Renewed discussions in the late 2000s led to a competitive balance committee formed in January 2010, which produced the roster-based system now in place. Only four to five other states currently separate public and private state tournaments, according to the OHSAA.
The next milestone is the December petition deadline. If 75 principals sign, every OHSAA member school votes during the May 2027 referendum period.
