Bylaws

Orange County Area Schools

Releaguing Bylaws

2024-2026

Process:           The process for developing Orange County Area Schools Releaguing shall:

1.   Provide reasonable and equal application of accepted criteria:

·         Competitive Equity (strength of program)

·         Geography (travel time)

·         Enrollment (student population)

2.   Maintain Brown Act Compliance (“intended to provide public access to meetings”)

3.   Follow CIF Southern Section Blue Book rules and policies

Orange County Area Placement is a two-year releaguing cycle for all sports. (Approved March 13, 2017).

Releaguing Proposals:  All Releaguing Proposals must provide evidence of the above-accepted criteria.

Releaguing Proposals protocols and procedures will not discriminate against one or more member schools. Releaguing Proposal protocols, procedure and guidelines must be inclusive and applied with consistency and equality (same opportunity when policy is applied). We must prevent the inconsistent and unequal application of Releaguing Proposal protocols, procedures and guidelines that would intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against one or more than one member school while creating single sport alignment, leagues or conferences.

Releaguing Proposals must include all member schools.

Blue Book Sections:   CIFSS Section Bylaw 32 (pages 37-40) - Area Placement and Releaguing Process/Appeals CIFSS Section Bylaw 507 (page 109)- Section Alignment of Leagues                         

Bylaws:

Chairperson, Parliamentarian, Secretary and Dues

1.0               Mr. Michael P. Brennan will preside as Chairperson with the assistance of Dr. John Dahlem (Parliamentarian) and Mr. Joel Hartmann (Secretary).

2.0               Releaguing Dues will be $50.00 per school. Dues may be used to pay for expenses such as snacks, water, location and parking. Checks should be made out to “Trinity League” and mailed to Mater Dei High School c/o Mr. Joel Hartmann 1202 West Edinger Ave. Santa Ana, California 92707. If expenses are greater than revenue, a simple majority vote will increase Releaguing Dues. Dues is to be paid on or before April 3, 2023, for this Releaguing Cycle.

Membership and Voting Privileges

3.0               Orange County Area Representative Principals are committee members and thus have voting privileges.

4.0               Voting is restricted to schools that are members of the organization and in operation with students. This includes new member schools recently approved by the CIF SS for Orange County Placement.

5.0               Schools (not yet opened but have plans to open/no students) assigned through area placement may participate in Releaguing (voting privileges) provided a simple majority of voting members approve.

6.0               If a Principal cannot attend a meeting, he or she must send an Administrative Designee from the same school. The Administrative Designee from the same school will have voting privileges based on written authorization. Therefore, schools must be present to exercise voting privileges (no proxy votes).

7.0               If a Principal is unable to attend, the principal must provide written authorization for the Administrative Designee (from the same school) to have voting privileges. For voting privileges to occur, written authorization must be received in advance of the scheduled meeting start time. If written authorization arrives after the scheduled meeting begins, the Administrative Designee will forfeit voting privileges for that meeting only, unless a simple majority of voting members vote to reinstate voting privileges. Written authorization must be on school letter head, include the Principal’s signature and Administrative Designees name and position. Written authorization must be emailed to the Releaguing Secretary Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org).

8.0               At the April 24th Athletic Directors meeting, only Athletic Directors will have voting privileges to determine three (3) Athletic Director proposals. Schools must be present to exercise voting privileges (no proxy voting). If an Athletic Director cannot attend he/she must send an Athletic Director Designee (from the same school) to have voting privileges. For voting privileges to occur, written authorization must be received in advance of the scheduled meeting start time. If written authorization arrives after the scheduled meeting begins, the Athletic Director Designee will forfeit voting privileges for that meeting only, unless a simple majority of voting members vote to reinstate voting privileges. Written authorization must be on school letterhead, include the Athletic Director signature, Athletic Director Designees name and position. Written authorization must be emailed to the Releaguing Secretary Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org). After this meeting, all voting privileges will return to Principals. This is the only meeting that Athletic Directors have voting privileges.

Media, Brown Act, Roberts Rules of Order, Agendas, Videotape and Minutes/Notes

9.0               Meetings are open to the media. Each media representative must introduce him or herself to the Chairperson, Parliamentarian or Secretary.

10.0            Meetings are subject to the Brown Act and will follow an agenda.

11.0            Meetings will be conducted and based upon Robert’s Rules of Order.

12.0            Meeting agendas will be provided five (5) working days before each scheduled meeting.

13.0            Meeting minutes or notes will be distributed to all Principals within seventy-two (72) hours.

14.0            Agendas must be posted at each school site seventy-two (72) hours before scheduled meetings.

Quorum, Voting and Passage of Motion

15.0            A simple majority of Orange County Area Representatives will constitute a quorum for all meetings. Alphabetical Roll Call by member school will be obtained verbally.

16.0            Alphabetical Roll Call (by member school) voting will be verbally stated by each member school. Each member school verbally states their vote so that all member schools have the opportunity to hear the official vote of other member schools. Schools must be present to exercise voting privileges (no proxy voting). Minutes or notes will reflect the yeas, nays and abstentions for each vote taken. A record of each Roll Call vote will be attached to the minutes and sent to the CIF SS office. Secret ballots are prohibited. The Chairperson will request that an administrative designee from each member school verbally state their official vote or votes.

17.0            The Releaguing Secretary and the Parliamentarian will tabulate Roll Call voting separately. It is recommended that each member school tabulate Roll Call voting (auditing).

18.0            Voting shall be conducted by a 1) Motion 2) Second 3) Discussion 4) Call for Vote 5) Vote.

19.0            Passage of any motion (not the Final (1) Proposal) to approve requires a majority of those present (50% plus 1 of casted votes) to vote yea. In the case of a tie, the motion will not be approved. Abstentions are considered a casted and official vote.

20.0            Passage of a motion to vote upon the Final (1) Releaguing Proposal requires a majority vote of those member school administrative designees present. Once the motion to vote upon the Final (1) Releaguing Proposal is approved, a motion will be made to approve the Final (1) Releaguing Proposal. The Final (1) Releaguing Proposal must obtain a sixty percent (60%) majority yea vote of those member school administrative designees present. Abstentions are considered a casted vote.

School Profile, Area Placement Questionnaire and Releaguing Proposal

21.0            Schools will digitally send (email) a completed official School Profile Form and their Area Questionnaire to the Releaguing Secretary Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org). This must occur on or before 11:59 p.m.  April 3, 2023. The Releaguing Secretary will post the official School Profile Form and Area Placement Questionnaire on the Orange County Area Placement website under resources. Schools must utilize the official School Profile Form and Area Placement Questionnaire provided by the Releaguing Secretary. Schools requesting Orange County Area Placement or Relief must submit a New League Proposal to Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org) by April 14, 2023, 11:59 p.m.

22.0            Releaguing Proposals must be written on the Orange County Area Releaguing Proposal Form. This form is located on the Orange County Area Placement Website. If a proposal is created at either the Athletic Directors or Principals meetings, the Releaguing Proposal Form must be completely filled out. Upon request, Releaguing Proposal Form(s) will be sent to the Releaguing Secretary Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org). The Releaguing Secretary will post Releaguing Proposal Forms (Orange County Placement Website) for all member schools to view.

23.0            Releaguing Proposals must provide reasonable and equal application of accepted criteria and must include all member schools:

·         Competitive Equity (strength of program)

·         Geography (travel time)

·         Enrollment (school population)

   See “Process and Releaguing Proposals” page 1 of this document.

Athletic Directors Releaguing Proposal Meeting

24.0            Athletic Directors will meet on April 24, 2023 (beginning at 9:00a.m.) Diocese of Orange.  At this meeting, Athletic Directors/New Member School Athletic Directors are Orange County Area Representative voting members. The purpose of this meeting is for Athletic Directors to collegially create a maximum of three (3) Releaguing Proposals. The three (3) Releaguing Proposals are based (only) on those schools requesting relief or new member schools requesting a league. *Any reference in this document to the word “league” refers to a duly constituted league or conference formed in the last Releaguing cycle. All conferences are permitted one vote regardless of how many leagues are within said conference. The meeting will begin with (only) member schools Athletic Directors requesting relief and new member schools Athletic Directors having five (5) minutes to present their school information and Releaguing Proposals. Only one representative per school is permitted to speak. Athletic Directors seeking relief will present first, followed by new member school Athletic Directors. Each school may include a maximum of two (2) new 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposals. Releaguing Proposals should affect the least amount of member schools as reasonably possible. Releaguing Proposals must include all member schools. All member schools have voting privileges. Releaguing Proposals must be sent to the Releaguing Secretary, Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org) on or before April 14, 2023, 11:59p.m. The Releaguing Secretary will post Releaguing Proposals on the Orange County Area Placement Website by 12:00p.m. on April 16, 2023.

25.0            If a school seeking relief or a new member school creates a proposal for Football Only, all member schools must be included within a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s). All CIF criteria will be followed. All member schools will be treated consistently and with equality (same opportunity when policy is applied). All member schools are permitted to vote for or against a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) per CIF SS. The process, beginning with 24.0, will be used to determine if a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) is/are approved or not approved by member schools. It must be noted that a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) will be voted upon and approved/not approved before all other Sports Releaguing Proposals can be discussed. Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) will be kept separate from all other Sports Releaguing Proposals. At the end of the Releaguing Process, two separate Releaguing Proposals must obtain 60 percent (60%) member school approval to be sent to CIF SS as our Final Releaguing Proposals (Football Only and all other Sports). Again, if there is a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s), we will follow the process for both Football Only and other Sports Releaguing Proposals.

26.0            All Leagues/Conferences/Member Schools will have ten (10) minutes to reflect and discuss Releaguing Proposals. Upon request, the Releaguing Chairperson may grant more time (5-minute periods).

27.0            League/Conference Presidents or a League/Conference Designee (must be an Athletic Director) from impacted leagues/conferences have three (3) minutes to speak for or against presented Releaguing Proposals. One representative per league/conference may present. At the conclusion of League/Conference Presidents or League/Conference Designees speaking, one representative from schools requesting relief and new member schools will have (3) minutes to speak for or against.

28.0            If member schools requesting relief and new member schools are accepted into league/conference of their choice, a Releaguing Proposal will be created and then voted upon. Passage of a motion to approve will require a simple majority of those member schools or Athletic Directors present. In this case, only one (1) Releaguing Proposal would be created and recommended to principals. Final one (1) Athletic Director proposal will immediately be placed on the Orange County Releaguing Website.

29.0            If one (1) or more than one (1) member school requesting relief or new member school(s) is/are not accepted into the league/conference of their choice, the Chairperson will call for a twenty (20) minute caucus. The purpose is to allow Athletic Directors (from the same league/conference) the opportunity to communicate and develop Releaguing Counterproposals. Releaguing Counterproposals must be aligned to the accepted criteria and must include schools that requested relief or are new members.

30.0            Each league/conference will have the opportunity to create one (1) Releaguing Counterproposal. Upon request, the Releaguing Chairperson may grant more time (5-minute periods). Releaguing Counterproposals must include the league/conference name and league/conference vote in support of the league Releaguing Counterproposal. If a league/conference does not approve a Releaguing Proposal by a simple majority, the Releaguing Counterproposal will not be included and considered obsolete.

31.0            Upon request, Releaguing Counterproposals must be emailed to the Releaguing League Secretary Mr. Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org). Releaguing Counterproposals will then be posted on the Orange County Releaguing Website.

32.0            League/Conference Presidents or Athletic Directors from leagues/conferences that created a Releaguing Counterproposal will have three (3) minutes to speak. There will be only one representative per league/conference presenting. Releaguing counterproposals must include member schools requesting relief and new member schools requesting a league.

33.0            New member school Principals, League/Conference Presidents, or a League/Conference Designee (must be an Athletic Director) from impacted leagues, an Athletic Director from schools requesting relief and new member schools Athletic Directors will have three (3) minutes to speak for or against Releaguing Counterproposals. There will only be one representative per impacted league/conference, member schools requesting relief and new member schools speaking.

34.0            Releaguing Counterproposals will have a numbered representation. The Releaguing Secretary will number each Releaguing Proposal beginning with one (1).

35.0            Chairperson will call for a vote. Alphabetical Roll Call voting will begin. Each member school will verbally communicate their official vote by stating the school they represent, the numbered Releaguing proposal(s) they are supporting and the amount of votes per Releaguing proposal. Each member school will have the opportunity to vote for one half (50% rounding down) of total Releaguing Proposals. Therefore, if there were eight (8) Releaguing Proposals, each member school would have four (4) votes. If there were nine (9) Releaguing Proposals, each member school would have four (4) votes. A member school may use all votes in support of one (1) Releaguing Proposal. The top three (3) Releaguing Proposals will be announced. In the case of a tie, there may be more than three (3) Releaguing Proposals recommended to member school Principals. Both the Releaguing Secretary and the Parliamentarian will tabulate votes. All Athletic Directors are encouraged to tabulate votes (audit).

36.0            Chairperson will call for a vote. Roll call and verbal voting will begin and each member school including new member schools will verbally vote to approve the top three (3) Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals. There is no proxy voting.

37.0            Passage of a motion to approve the top three (3) Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals will require a simple majority of those member schools or Athletic Directors present. Each member school will have one (1) vote to approve the motion.

38.0            Final three (3) Athletic Director proposals will immediately be placed on the Orange County Releaguing Website. Releaguing Proposals will be recommended to member school Principals.

Principals Releaguing Proposal and Final Recommended CIF Orange County Releaguing Placement    

39.0            The second and potential final meeting will be May 15, 2023 (9:00 a.m.) Location TBA. At this meeting, Principals are considered Orange County Area Representatives. The purpose of this meeting is to review recommended Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals (from April 24, 2023) and provide time for member school Principals seeking relief, new member school Principals, and each league/conference an opportunity to present one (1) new Relief Releaguing Proposal. Principals seeking relief, new member school Principals (only those schools that requested relief or new member schools requesting a league/conference at the April 24, 2023 Athletic Director meeting) and leagues/conferences must send their one (1) new 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposal to the Releaguing Secretary, Joel Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org) on or before May 5, 2023 11:59p.m. The Releaguing Secretary will post all new Releaguing Proposals on the Orange County Area Placement Website by 12:00p.m. May 7, 2023.

40.0            The meeting will begin with member school Principals requesting relief and new member school Principals having five (5) minutes to present. In their presentation, they may include school information and one (1) new 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposal. Relief and new member schools Releaguing Proposals must affect the least amount of member schools as reasonably possible. Releaguing proposals must include all member schools.  Releaguing Proposals must follow accepted criteria. All member schools have voting privileges.

41.0            If a school seeking relief or a new member school creates a proposal for Football Only, all member schools must be included within a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s). All CIF criteria will be followed. All member schools will be treated consistently and with equality (same opportunity when policy is applied). All member schools are permitted to vote for or against a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) per CIF SS. The process, beginning with 40.0, will be used to determine if a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) is/are approved or not approved by member schools. It must be noted that a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) will be voted upon and approved/not approved before all other Sports Releaguing Proposals can be discussed. Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s) will be kept separate from all other Sports Releaguing Proposals. At the end of the Releaguing Process, two separate Releaguing Proposals must obtain 60 percent (60%) member school approval to be sent to CIF SS as our Final Releaguing Proposals (Football Only and all other Sports). Again, if there is a Football Only Releaguing Proposal(s), we will follow the process for both Football Only and other Sports Releaguing Proposals.

42.0            All leagues/conferences will have ten (10) minutes to discuss Releaguing Proposals. Upon request, the Releaguing Chairperson may grant more time (5-minute periods).

43.0            League/Conference Presidents or a League/Conference Designee from impacted leagues/conferences have three (3) minutes to speak for or against presented Releaguing Proposals. One representative per league/conference may present. At the conclusion of League/Conference Presidents or League/Conference Designees speaking, one representative from schools requesting reliefs and new member schools will have (3) minutes to speak for or against.

44.0            Individual League/Conference 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposals will be presented. Each League/Conference President or League/Conference Designee will have (5 minutes) to present their 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposal. Releaguing Proposals must be aligned to accepted criteria and must include schools seeking relief and new member schools requesting a league/conference.

45.0            All leagues/conferences will have ten (10) minutes to discuss Individual League Releaguing Proposals. Upon request, the Releaguing Chairperson may grant more time (5-minute periods).

46.0            League/Conference Presidents or a League/Conference Designee from impacted leagues/conferences have three (3) minutes to speak for or against presented Releaguing Proposals. One representative per league/conference may present. At the conclusion of League/Conference Presidents or League/Conference Designees speaking, one representative from schools requesting reliefs and new member schools will have (3) minutes to speak for or against.

47.0            Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals (April 24, 2023) will be reviewed by the Releaguing Secretary.

48.0            Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals will be numbered as one (1), two (2) and three (3).

49.0            Relief Releaguing Proposals and new member Proposals will begin with the number four (4), unless there were more than three (3) Athletic Director Releaguing Proposals. The new League proposals will begin with the number that immediately follows Relief and new member proposals. Releaguing Secretary Joel Hartmann will number new Proposals under the observation of the parliamentarian (Dr. John Dahlem).

50.0            Chairperson will call for a vote. Alphabetical Roll Call voting will begin. Each member school Principal will verbally state their official vote by stating the school they represent, the numbered Releaguing proposal(s) they are supporting and the number of votes per Releaguing proposal (no proxy voting). Each member school will have the opportunity to vote for one half (50% rounding down) of total Releaguing Proposals. For example, if there were six (6) total first round proposals, each school would have three (3) votes. If there were five (5) total first round proposals, each school would have two (2) votes. A member school may use all votes in support of one (1) Releaguing Proposal or may divide their votes and vote for more than one proposal. At the end of the first round, the top three (3) proposals will move forward to round two (2). Round two (2) will move from three (3) to two (2) Releaguing Proposals.  During round two and following rounds, each school will have one (1) vote. Round three (3) will move from two (2) Releaguing Proposals to the Final (1) CIF Releaguing Proposal. The Releaguing Secretary and the Parliamentarian will tabulate votes. All member schools are encouraged to tabulate votes (audit).

51.0            Passage of a motion and voting to approve the top three (3) Releaguing Proposals (round 1), final two (2)     

    Releaguing Proposals (round 2) and the final CIF Releaguing Proposal (round 3) will be as follows. If we

    begin this process with less than four (4) Releaguing Proposals, we will move directly to the final (2) or   

    possibly the final (1) depending on the number of Releaguing Proposals submitted:

The top three (3) Releaguing Proposals will be those proposals that receive the highest amount of votes. Therefore, the highest amount is number one (1); the second highest amount is number two (2), and the third highest amount is number three (3).

The final two (2) Releaguing Proposals will be those proposals which receive the highest amount of votes. Therefore, the highest amount is number (1) and the second highest amount is number two (2).

The final (1) 2022-2024 Releaguing Proposal will be the proposal that receives the highest amount of votes from the final two (2). Therefore, the highest amount (out of the final two) will be the Final (1) 2022-2023 Releaguing Proposal.

Passage of a motion to vote on the Final (1) CIF Proposal will be approved by a majority vote. Once approved, a motion will be made to approve the Final (1) 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposal. The final proposal must be approved with a sixty percent (60%) majority vote. If the Final one (1) Releaguing Proposal receives a sixty percent (60%) majority vote, voting ceases and that proposal will represent the area as its selection and will be immediately forwarded to the CIF Southern Section office.

52.0    If there is a tie when determining the top three (3) or the final two (2) Releaguing Proposals, all tied  Releaguing Proposals will be included in the top three (3) or final two (2).For example, if there are two (2)  Releaguing Proposals tied for first when determining the top three (3), the top three (3) Releaguing Proposals will include the two (2) tied for first plus the second place Releaguing Proposal only.

53.0            If the Final Releaguing Proposal does not receive a sixty percent (60%) majority vote, there will be a League representative caucus for twenty (20) minutes. Per request, the Releaguing Chairperson may approve more time (5 minute-periods).  League Representatives will meet and prepare a compromise to the Final (1) CIF Proposal. The compromise will create a new counterproposal. This new counterproposal must follow the accepted criteria and must include schools requesting relief and new member schools requesting a league/conference. Passage of a motion to vote on the Final (1) Releaguing Proposal (League Representative Counterproposal) will be approved by a majority vote of League Representatives. Once League Representatives approve, a motion will be made to approve the Final (1) 2024-2026 Releaguing Proposal. The Final (1) proposal must be approved with a sixty percent (60%) member schools vote. If the Final One Releaguing Proposal receives a sixty percent (60%) majority member school vote, voting ceases and that proposal will represent the area as its selection and will be immediately forwarded to the CIF Southern Section office.

54.0            All appeals must be in accordance with the CIF Blue Book Page 40 “Releaguing Appeal Procedures.”