The Observation Deck

Apparently Lakewood High Athletics will be switching leagues again (for the second time in five years). The new league consists of Avon, Bay, Elyria Catholic, Midview, North Ridgeville, Rocky River and Vermillion. The story in the LO mentions travel costs and rivalries, but I am curious to learn more.

LHS is far, far larger than the other schools in its new league, and is in fact TWICE as large as most of them. I realize that the Rangers have struggled in football and boys hoops recently, but this seems a bit extreme. This would be like the Cleveland Indians leaving the American League to play the Lake Erie Crushers and Akron Aeros.

I am curious if anyone can offer some insight on this decision. For example:
*Why are these smaller schools willing to take in a large program like Lakewood?
*Is the West Shore Conference planning to add more large schools (such as the newly combined Lorain High and the potential Mega-Parma High?) to form a new "big-school" division?
*If Lakewood dominates these smaller schools, aren't they going to want the Rangers kicked out?
*If Lakewood doesn't dominate these smaller schools, what would that say about the program?

I would appreciate any insight.

Mike Deneen wrote:Apparently Lakewood High Athletics will be switching leagues again (for the second time in five years). The new league consists of Avon, Bay, Elyria Catholic, Midview, North Ridgeville, Rocky River and Vermillion. The story in the LO mentions travel costs and rivalries, but I am curious to learn more.

LHS is far, far larger than the other schools in its new league, and is in fact TWICE as large as most of them. I realize that the Rangers have struggled in football and boys hoops recently, but this seems a bit extreme. This would be like the Cleveland Indians leaving the American League to play the Lake Erie Crushers and Akron Aeros.

I am curious if anyone can offer some insight on this decision. For example:
*Why are these smaller schools willing to take in a large program like Lakewood?
*Is the West Shore Conference planning to add more large schools (such as the newly combined Lorain High and the potential Mega-Parma High?) to form a new "big-school" division?
*If Lakewood dominates these smaller schools, aren't they going to want the Rangers kicked out?
*If Lakewood doesn't dominate these smaller schools, what would that say about the program?

I would appreciate any insight.

Here are the enrollment figures for Ohio Schools:http://www.ohsaa.org/members/hsenroll09.htm

Divisional Breakdowns http://www.ohsaa.org/members/sptdivis09.htm

Mike Deneen wrote:I would appreciate any insight.

We could not get them in a Japanese League where everyone wins or plays for a tie?

I did notice St. Eds selling mattresses to improve their teams this past weekend.
They should be able to buy some pretty good players.

Maybe LHS could sell dinette sets or home entertainment centers?


These guys are busy tweating about the sale to "Friends of Lady Gaga" possibly.
She recently passed 10,000,000 friends on Facebook, and people signed up for her tweats!(is that what they are called?)
At least these two were not walking into the road screaming at people driving by, or
pitching mattresses to dying people in ambulances as some of their cohorts were doing.

.

What a great picture. Funny thing is, they were probably texting each other.

Mike,

Sorry for taking so long to respond to your post. Below is background information.

On April 1, 2010, the “Lakewood Athletics – Building for Excellence Committee” presented to Dr. P. Joseph Madak its “Recommendations for the Continuous Improvement of the Lakewood City Schools Athletic Department and Recreation Department Programming.” The following individuals served on the Committee, and a copy of their “Report to the Superintendent” is attached:

Keith Ahearn
Fred Leick
Nicole Anderson
Ron Lewis
Phil Argento
Harry Manos
Ted Bruening
Jeff Patterson
Erin Fach
Dave Shestina
Edward Favre
Brian Siftar
Anne Giffels
Elizabeth Street
Chuck Greanoff
Bob Thayer
John Kamkutis
Josh Thornsberry
Duane Kunze
Rick Wair

Both Board Members Favre and Kamkutis served on the Committee so I am sure they will jump in and answer any specific questions you may have about that process.

Superintendent Madak then provided the Committee’s Report to the Board for consideration.

On May 3, 2010, the Report was first discussed by the Board. See http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/docs/BoardDocuments/Min%201stBd%20Mtg%20050310.pdf; http://podcasting.schoolpointesites.com/Channel/Feed/86.

On May 17, 2010, the Report was again discussed and, I believe, this was the first meeting where Board Member Favre introduced his “Continuous Improvement of the Lakewood City School Athletic Department and Recreation Department Programming Resolution” for the Board to consider. That Resolution is attached. See, also, http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/docs/BoardDocuments/May%20Agenda%20-%202nd%20Board%20Meeting-0.pdf; http://podcasting.schoolpointesites.com/Channel/Feed/86.

As Board Member Favre prepared the Resolution, I am sure he will jump in and answer any specific questions you may have about that Resolution – beyond what it says.

On June 7, 2010, the Board adopted the Resolution. See http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/docs/BoardDocuments/June%20Agenda%20-%20lst%20Board%20Meeting.pdf; http://podcasting.schoolpointesites.com/Channel/Feed/86.

As you can see from the Resolution itself, the Board is expecting a high degree of accountability from the Administration with respect to both the Athletic and Recreation Departments.

Based upon the recommendation of the Committee and the Administration, the Board also felt that it was in the best interest of the Lakewood City Schools to leave the Northeast Ohio Conference and submit an application to join the West Shore Athletic Conference effective the 2012-2013 school year so that is mandated in the Resolution as well. I agree.

Our application was submitted as directed and I first learned of our acceptance into the West Shore Athletic Conference from July 8, 2010 news reports. See http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2010/07/lakewood_high_school_ranger_at.html; http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/lakewood-city-schools-to-change-athletic-conferences; http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/38152807/ns/local_news-cleveland_oh/.

Matt

The Lakewood Observer has an article on the front page at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/6/14/lakewood-to-change-athletic-conferences.

The Sun Post-Herald has an article at: http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2010/07/lakewood_high_school_switching.html.