BC School Sports has shared the final copy of their motion for a new governance model for BCSS. In this model, ALL sport commissions will be dissolved and / or no longer a part of BCSS. Here is a link to the final proposal.
BCSS Governance Motion v3.1
The BCSSGBA is OPPOSED to the BCSS governance proposal v3.1 and encourages everyone to speak to your school Athletic Director and Administrator.
The BCSSGBA encourages your school to vote NO for this motion at the BCSS AGM on May 1, 2021.
The BCSSGBA has many concerns about this new governance proposal.
All future decisions regarding BC Secondary Schools Girls Basketball will be made by BCSS committees. These committees can ONLY include educators currently active. Retired teacher-coaches and community coaches are not permitted to be on these decision making committees. We value the input, expertise and dedication of many individuals who will no longer be welcome in this process.
All future rules / decisions for girls basketball will be made by a BCSS Rules Committee. This committee will have very limited representation from girls basketball – only 1 person per sport. After two years, that 1 person may be a representative from boys basketball leaving girls basketball with no representation.
All future decisions and management of the A, AA, AAA, and AAAA Zone and Provincial Championship Tournaments will be made by the BCSS Team Sport Championship Committee. This Team Sport Championship Committee will make decisions on size & structure of championships, tournament berthing, tournament seeding and draws yet will have very limited representation from girls basketball – only 1 person per sport. Again, after two years, that 1 person may be a representative from boys basketball leaving girls basketball with no representation.
The new BCSS governance model proposal v3.1 includes Sport Advisory Committees (SAC) to provide sport specific guidance to the BCSS committees empowered to make the decisions. The BCSSGBA does not believe the inclusion of the SAC is enough to provide adequate representation or expertise in the decision making process for the best interest of girls basketball. The BCSSGBA continue to OPPOSE this motion.
Please vote NO for this motion on May 1, 2021.
The BCSSGBA, and other commissions, support working with BCSS on governance reform. We recognize a need for reform. However, the BCSSGBA supports a new governance model that continues to involve sport specific commissions and a process that includes commissions in the consultative process. The BCSSGBA existed long before BCSS. The BCSSGBA, and many Sport Commissions, have done so much for high school sport in BC. This motion will bring that to an end.
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BELOW IS A LETTER SIGNED BY 15 SPORT COMMISSIONS
March 11, 2021.
An Open Letter to the Principals and Athletic Directors of BC Schools:
We, the undersigned Commissioners of the overwhelming majority of recognized Member School Sports in BC, are contacting you to urge you to VOTE AGAINST the BC School Sports (“BCSS”) new governance . proposal at the BCSS AGM on May 1st.
BCSS is proposing the most sweeping change to the governance of high school sports in the history of our province. For over 50 years through 20 recognized Sport Commissions, volunteer teachers and coaches have done the hard work to organize, host and run first class provincial championships. This new proposal would not only eliminate these Sport Commissions, it would also disenfranchise over 450 Member Schools by replacing them and the one “one school, one vote” concept with an appointed 54 member “Legislative Assembly”. This means every school in BC would lose its right to vote.
We strongly oppose the proposal because:
1. The Experience for Student Athletes Will Deteriorate
This is the most important issue. The quality of the student-athlete experience will deteriorate under this new model because: (a) the decision making related to each sport will be far less informed and (b) provincial championships may become smaller, scaled-back events with fewer student-athletes able to participate.
2. Decision Making is Separated from Knowledge of each Sport
Under the BCSS proposal, those who are closest to and most familiar with each sport will no longer be making key decisions regarding the organization and play of each sport. Instead, all decision-making authority would rest with a Legislative Assembly which does not include any representation from these sports themselves. There is simply no way that people who have never coached in or organized any of these provincial championships can provide better guidance for our student-athletes than dedicated teacher-coaches with a lifetime of experience.
3. Valuable Expertise Will Be Lost
Sports commissions consist of many volunteer individuals with a great deal of knowledge and passion for student participation in their sports. Under the BCSS proposal, these commissions would be eliminated and BCSS simply does not have the staff or experience to take their place.
To run a multi-day provincial championship involving more than one thousand participants requires the continuing engagement of volunteers who are empowered to make decisions and feel valued for their commitment. We believe that Principals and Athletic Directors understand this because you know how to recruit and retain volunteers for key positions in your schools.
We urge you to VOTE AGAINST the proposal on May 1st so that the process to develop new governance is not rushed during a global pandemic and an appropriate level of consultation can take place.
We invite BCSS to work in partnership to collectively develop a new model of governance that will create excitement about the future for student athletic participation in this province.
For more information or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the following Sport Commissioners.
Walter van Halst, Boys Rugby. Email: vanhalst_w@surreyschools.ca
Andrew Lenton, Track and Field. Email: alenton68@gmail.com
Jen Farano, Girls Basketball. Email: jen.farano@stmc.bc.ca
Don Moslin, Soccer. dmoslin@gmail.com
Ken Dockendorf, Boys Basketball. Email: kendockendorf@hotmail.com
Al Carmichael, Boys Volleyball. Email: acarmichael@sd61.bc.ca
Colin Dignum, Cross Country. Email: cdignum@wvschools.ca
Dave Romani, Curling. Email: dromani@sd43.bc.ca
Doug Corbett, Wrestling. Email: dcorbett@sd43.bc.ca
Glenn Johnston, Ski and Snowboarding. Email: gjohnston@wvschools.ca
Marci McLean, Tennis. Email: marci.mclean@brentwood.bc.ca
Maria Bartucci, Soccer. Email: mbartucci@exc.sd73.bc.ca
Mark Figueira, Golf. Email: Figueira_m@surreyschools.ca
Nicole Jean, Mountain Biking. Email: nicolekjean@gmail.com
Terry Mitruk, Gymnastics. Email: tmitruk@sd44.ca
Yvonne Chan, Badminton. Email: bcssbmt@gmail.com