UPDATE: The March Ada Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled. The board will meet at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 30.
By Paula Scott
On Monday, March 6, the Ada Exempted Village Schools hosted a forum for discussion about the proposed school sports move from the Northwest Conference (NWC) to the Blanchard Valley Conference (BVC).
Approximately 100 people attended the event. Moderated by high school principal Dan Lee, attendees were invited to make comments with a time limit of three minutes, followed by a question and answer period.
Commenters included parents, current and former coaches, teacher-coaches and two students.
The opportunity to change conferences comes with an invitation by the Blanchard Valley Conference, which is looking to replace the Liberty-Benton school district. The BVC is made up of smaller schools than the NWC.
Some commenters suggested that a change in culture, less coaching staff turnover, and increased resources were needed rather than a change in conferences.
Others supported the change, calling it a leveling of the playing field and a strategic response to changing conditions.
The one thing that attendees could agree on? Fewer students are interested in playing high school sports.
Other changes identified in the school sports dynamic were travel team opportunities and more one-sport players.
Football is one of the oldest Bulldog sports traditions and has a schedule dominated by conference teams. It was noted that freshman and sophomore Bulldog players are pitted against older, larger players. Injuries as well as win-loss records were a concern in this sport.
Having elementary, middle and high school students in one building was mentioned as a plus. Attracting younger students to attend games was discussed. Ticket costs were seen as a barrier to growing this audience.
Financials were part of the Q&A session, with athletic director Ken Jochims answering many of the questions.
What class in high school would be impacted? How long would it take to move? Jochims noted that the transition would take 1-2 years. Ada Schools would need to fulfill current contractual commitments.
Could student admission to sporting events be free? Jochims said that this “is a two-way street” because ticket sales fund uniforms, officials fees, entry fees and equipment. Transportation, pool rental, security and coaches are paid for by the district.
It was also noted that the Ada Athletic Boosters provide a per player contribution, and have recently purchased software, volleyball nets and a softball pitching machine for the Ada Schools.
A move to the BVC would likely reduce ticket revenue. A spur of the moment estimate was a reduction of $7000 annually.
An attendee asked if the decision had already been made and if it was really the administrators who would make a recommendation to the school board. Britton Devier, an Ada graduate and the K-12 assistant principal, said that he sees a lot of changes in the NWC since he was a student-athlete. He encouraged the audience to consider all sports and explained that he did support the move. He said that the five elected officials on the board would determine whether the change happens.
In 2022 the board declined to vote on a conference switch.
High School Principal Dan Lee, who has children in the Ada Schools but comes from Cincinnati, said that he looks at the conference like any strategic decision. He noted that changing conferences is not uncommon. Lee said that he wants to see more students benefit from participation in sports, which teaches values, toughness and leadership.
Superintendent Robin VanBuskirk commented that she wants what is best for kids. She wants them to have success.
The meeting ended 30 minutes beyond the scheduled time. The audience was told that the discussion would continue at the next Board of Education meeting at 5:00 p.m. on March 30. Voting on the matter is likely to take place in April or May.
