A statewide referendum vote on whether public and private schools should be separated, is coming this spring. The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors acknowledged receipt of a formal petition to place a referendum item on the ballot this coming May.

The petition was received before the December first deadline and with the appropriate number of signatures (75 total signatures of member school principals with at least five signatures from each of the OHSAA’s six districts) as mandated by Article 8 of the OHSAA Constitution.

The annual referendum voting period is May 1-15, with each member high school having one vote cast by the principal. Before the referendum voting period begins, the OHSAA will explain the referendum item and provide additional information on the issue to the membership.

The OHSAA membership voted down similar proposals in 1978 and 1994.

OHSAA member schools recently voted against proposals on two occasions, for a three-tier formula change on the existing tournament, that kept public and private schools together.