Stratford Academy issued the following announcement on Nov. 3.
Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, Stratford Academy is declaring our intention to leave the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and rejoin the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) for athletic competition. Stratford joined the GHSA in the 2014-2015 school year with the primary reason of competing against a more diverse population of schools. In 2020-2021, the GHSA separated Class A into eight (8) private school regions and eight (8) public school regions. While Stratford was still able to schedule contests with public schools, the GHSA created a private school league for Class A schools within the GHSA.
Along with several other decisions made by the GHSA, which have not been in the best interest of private schools, many of the Class A private school Heads of School and Athletic Directors began conversations with the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) regarding an interscholastic alternative for independent schools. The fundamental issue being, if we are going to be segregated into a private school league, why would we continue to allow the GHSA, a public school organization, to exercise its authority over us. Since 2012, most of the major decisions the GHSA has made have not been beneficial for private schools at any classification level.
As Mr. Bowlds has said on numerous occasions, “our independence is our power, and our power is our independence.” It has become increasingly clear the overall position of the majority of public-school constituents within the GHSA is hostile to private schools. Stratford and our peer schools now feel sacrificing much of our independence to the GHSA is simply not in the best interest of our schools.
In conversations with the GISA, Stratford and our peer schools stressed in order for us to leave the GHSA, we wanted the opportunity to create a new interscholastic league with its own branding and commissioner. All of these stipulations have been met and the process is currently in progress. The new league will be under the umbrella of the GISA because the GISA has established membership in the National Federation of High Schools, as well as established legal representation in the Georgia State Legislature. These are important pieces to any interscholastic organization in which we are a member.
Stratford has always been a leader within various member organizations to which we are a part. It was important for our school to continue this leadership in the formation of this new league. Within our current GHSA region, Mount De Sales Academy, Tattnall Square Academy, First Presbyterian Day School, Deerfield-Windsor Academy, and Strong Rock Christian Academy are committing alongside us to join the new league, as indicated by the attached media release. It is our belief that declaring our intentions to leave the GHSA and to be a charter member of this new league, other private schools will join us – if not immediately, then in years to come.
Our firm belief is this is the time to be a part of a new venture specifically serving independent schools, where Stratford has an opportunity to lead and serve other like-minded independent schools. While no organization is perfect and there will be issues which need to be resolved, Stratford is excited to begin this process for our school and student athletes.
Mark Farriba
Stratford Academy, Athletic Director
Original source can be found here.
Source: Stratford Academy
