Orange County Area Schools 2024-2026 CIF Releaguing Cycle
January 16, 2023
Orange County Area Principals, Athletic Directors, and League Representatives,
My name is Michael Brennan. I am the President of Mater Dei High School as well as the presiding Orange County Releaguing Chairperson. Mr. Joel Hartmann, Mater Dei High School Executive Director of Athletic Programs is our Releaguing Secretary. Dr. John Dahlem is a retired high school administrator and CIF Historian is our Releaguing Parliamentarian. Together, we will lead the 2024-2026 Releaguing Cycle. Collegially, we have led the last two Releaguing Cycles and look forward to serving you once again. The purpose of this letter is to provide information about the 2024-2026 Releaguing Cycle. As we move forward, remember the following:
· Agreed upon Bylaws will be enforced
· CIF SS Criteria concerning enrollment, geography and competitive equity is required.
· Releaguing procedures will remain aligned to the CIF Blue Book.
· Meetings are open to the media and may be videotaped.
We will begin on February 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be in person at Mater Dei High School. On this day, Mr. Hartmann, Dr. Dahlem and I will only meet with League Representatives and the Principal/Athletic director from any new member schools requesting Orange County Placement. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of the Releaguing Process; discuss general or “hot” topic items; review a draft of the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws; discuss and accept recommendations to the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws; provide information about the Orange County Placement Website; and review the Releaguing Timeline. At the conclusion of the meeting, each league representative will provide Releaguing information pertaining to their request for Orange County Placement as well as their league request.
Mr. Hartmann will send a draft copy of the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws to Orange County Area athletic directors and principals on or before February 17, 2023. The first Releaguing meeting will be on March 8, 2023, at 2:00p.m. The meeting will be held at Mater Dei High School. This meeting is optional. Please send Joel Hartmann an email indicating whether or not you will be attending on or before March 4, 2023 (jhartmann@materdei.org). On this day, we will provide a Releaguing seminar to new athletic directors, principals and schools requesting first time Orange County Placement. We also recommend schools attend who may be requesting “RELIEF.” “RELIEF” means that you are requesting to be placed into another league. Topics of discussion will include the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws, protocol, and process. There will be NO vote taken at the meeting.
On March 13, 2023 (9:00 a.m.), principals or their duly appointed representative will ratify the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws within a virtual meeting. Voting will be a Roll Call Vote. Mr. Hartmann will send more information about this. Please understand, ratification of the 2024-2026 Releaguing Bylaws requires a simple majority (principals) of member schools.
As previously mentioned, Mr. Hartmann is developing a digital “Orange County Placement Website” to communicate and gather information. Mr. Hartmann will provide principals and athletic directors viewing privileges. All information gathered will be posted onto this website. Information posted will include the Releaguing Cycle Timeline, Bylaws, created proposals, resources, a message board and information about each member school.
Soon, Mr. Hartmann will begin gathering information from athletic directors. There will be two requested items. The first item is your school profile information. The second item is the Area Placement Questionnaire. The Area Placement Questionnaire will ask if your school is requesting “RELIEF.” If you request “RELIEF,” you must provide evidence to support your request and your request must follow CIF SS Criteria (second bullet point beginning of this letter). Evidence supporting your request will be shared by a document that you create on your school web drive (GoogleDoc, Blackboard etc.). This information will be placed in the resources area of the Orange County Placement Website. Once completed, you must digitally send both items to Mr. Hartmann (jhartmann@materdei.org) on or before April 3, 2023, 11:59 p.m.
Please contact Mr. Hartmann or me if you have any questions. My school number is (714) 850-9522 and my e-mail address is mbrennan@materdei.org. The League Secretary can be reached at (714) 754-0750 or at jhartmann@materdei.org.
It is important that you review the below timeline so that you will know all critical dates, times, and locations.
Hope you are having a blessed school year!
Michael P. Brennan