Appeal Tribune
܂ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018܂ 1B
Sports
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Percentage rule hits a nerve
In its decision on the remand of Cascade’s first appeal, the OSAA Executive Board stated that it traditionally does not grant emergency placement
unless a school drops between seven and 10 percent in attendance from year to year. MOLLY J. SMITH/STATESMAN JOURNAL
OSAA admonished at Cascade appeals hearing
Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
WILSONVILLE – When the Exec-
utive Board of the Oregon School
Activities Association voted to deny
Cascade High School’s petition to be
placed in the 4A classification to
start the 2018-2022 time block, its
given rationale was it usually
doesn’t grant such a request unless
the school’s enrollment has dropped
7 to 10 percent from one year to the
next.
Nowhere in the OSAA’s rules is
such a percentage specified.
That was the argument that res-
onated most with hearing’s officer
W. Michael Gillette in Cascade’s ap-
peal hearing April 3 at the OSAA of-
fice.
“OSAA hasn’t created it as a rule,
which is a problem for you,” said Gil-
lette, a retired justice of the Oregon
Supreme Court. “This really bothers
me. That strikes me as probably im-
permissible.”
Cascade’s adjusted enrollment
for the 2016-2017 school year was
687, which was used to move it up to
the Class 5A Mid-Willamette Con-
ference with Central, Corvallis,
Crescent Valley, Dallas, Lebanon,
North Salem, Silverton, South Alba-
ny and West Albany – and also
against McKay in football – starting
in the fall.
But the Turner school separated
its alternative school prior to this
school year and its current adjusted
enrollment is 643, 3.3 percent and
22 students below the 5A classifica-
tion cutoff.
In its decision on the remand of
Cascade’s first appeal, the OSAA Ex-
ecutive Board stated that it tradi-
tionally does not grant emergency
placement unless a school drops be-
tween seven and 10 percent in atten-
dance from year to year.
“It’s not a rule, but that’s been
used any time the board has consid-
ered a move in a time block,” said
Jonathan Radmacher, the attorney
representing the OSAA.
Cascade principal Matt Thatcher
was at every meeting of the OSAA’s
Classification and Districting Com-
mittee and Executive Board about
redistricting.
“Never at any point was that 7 to
10 percent been brought up,”
‘Monster Cookie’ bike
ride returns to Salem
Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Salem’s most popular bike ride is
back for its 42nd year.
The Monster Cookie Metric Century
Bicycle Ride will be held on April 29 this
year and is currently open for registra-
tion.
The 62-mile route from Capitol Mall
to Champoeg State Heritage Area and
back is a spring tradition not only for Sa-
lem bikers but for riders across the
Northwest as well.
The ride follows low-traffic back
roads from downtown Salem to Cham-
poeg, where riders stop to eat lunch be-
fore heading back. Some people end
their ride at Champoeg, making for a
shorter 34-mile day.
“I think what makes it popular is that
it’s just a fun ride; there’s food and, of
course, you get as many cookies as you
want,” said Hersch Sangster, president
of Salem Bicycle Club, the group that
puts on the ride. “It’s not a race — it’s
about getting out and having a good
time.”
To pre-register for the ride at $25, go
to salembicycleclub.org. Mail-in regis-
tration applications will be available at
local bike shops. There will be 'day of '
ride registration at $35. Registration
opens at 8 a.m.
“This is a recreational ride and is
open to all bicyclists who agree to share
the road with other users by riding safe-
ly, lawfully, and courteously,” a news re-
lease said. “Each participant must wear
a helmet that meets CPSC require-
ments.”
Riders leave from the Capitol on their
bikes for the Monster Cookie Metric
Century Bicycle Ride in 2013. This
year’s ride will take place on April 29.
KOBBI R. BLAIRE/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Thatcher said. “That is not a rule at
all.”
Traditionally emergency place-
ment – schools moving up or down a
classification based on significant
changes in enrollment – was only
considered in the middle of a time
block.
Cascade is being asked to be
placed in the classification its cur-
rent size affords starting in the be-
ginning of the new time block.
In his opinion on Cascade’s first
appeal, Gillette said that the OSAA’s
Executive Board has the capacity to
move Cascade to its current 4A clas-
sification at any point.
“The only thing I can describe is
the OSAA took a look at the remand
and took the narrowest view of it,”
Cascade superintendent Darin Drill
said.
During the two previous redis-
tricting appeals to the OSAA this
year, it was never made clear what
authority Gillette has.
In the previous Cascade appeal,
he ordered the OSAA’s Executive
Board to give further consideration
to placing Cascade in Class 4A.
And his denial of the Salem-Keiz-
“OSAA hasn’t created it
as a rule, which is a
problem for you. This
really bothers me. That
strikes me as probably
impermissible.”
W. Michael Gillette,
Cascade’s appeal hearing officer,
regarding OSAA’s alleged percentage rule
er appeal was based upon whether
the OSAA followed its procedures in
coming up with its new districts.
Though Gillette’s role as hearing’s
officer had been specified, the scope
of his power had never been defined
as they were the first appeals of their
type.
“What authority do I have here?”
Gillette asked of Radmacher. “Do I
have the authority to put Cascade in
the different league?”
“Yes, you do have that authority,”
Radmacher said.
Gillette said that he will try to
have an answer to Cascade’s appeal
this week.
bpoehler@StatesmanJour-
nal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler