FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2007
Potter's House Christian vacates position on Class 1A girls basketball championship bracket; FHSAA Board of Directors to conduct hearing on school's membership in Association
GAINESVILLE – Potter's House Christian Academy of Jacksonville has vacated its District 1A-4 runner-up honors and position on the 2007 FHSAA Class 1A Girls Basketball Championship bracket, the FHSAA Office announced today. The school also has been notified that a hearing on its membership status in the Association will be held before the FHSAA Board of Directors on March 25, 2007.
FAMU High School of Tallahassee, the District 1A-3 champion, which was scheduled to host Potter's House Christian in a Region 1A-1 quarterfinal game on Thursday night, will receive a quarterfinal bye into the regional semifinal game on Feb. 13.
The FHSAA Office on Monday learned that two student-athletes who are members of the school's varsity girls basketball team attended Ed White High School in Jacksonville at the beginning of the school year before transferring their attendance to Potter's House Christian. FHSAA Bylaw 11.4.2 states that a student who attends one high school and transfers to a different high school in the same school year is ineligible in the new school for the remainder of that school year unless the transfer is the result of a physical move to a new address that makes it necessary for the student to attend a different school.
It is the third major violation of FHSAA bylaws discovered in the Potter's House Christian athletic program in the last year.
• On March 14, 2006, the school was notified that a student-athlete who was a member of the school’s varsity football team was ineligible due to a violation of the FHSAA bona fide student rule (Bylaw 11.1.1). This student represented Potter’s House Christian even though he was enrolled in and attended a different school. The school was reprimanded, directed to forfeit all games won in which the ineligible student-athlete participated, fined $1,100 and placed on administrative probation through the 2007-08 school year. The school’s District 1B-3 football championship and its participation in the 2005 FHSAA Class 1B Football Championship also was vacated.
• On January 26, 2007, Potter’s House Christian was notified that five student-athletes who were members of the school’s varsity girls basketball team were ineligible due to violations of FHSAA transfer rules (Bylaw 11.4.13). These five student-athletes, who attended Shekinah Christian Academy during the 2005-06 school year and were members of that school’s varsity girls basketball team, enrolled at Potter’s House Christian after former Shekinah Christian Academy Coach Tony Bannister became associated with Potter’s House Christian. The school was reprimanded, directed to forfeit all games won in which the ineligible student-athletes participated, fined $5,000, and its administrative probation was elevated to restrictive probation and extended through the 2008-09 school year. During the period of restrictive probation, the school was prohibited from participation in the state girls basketball series, participation in contests with out-of-state opponents, and participation in preseason classic tournaments. Following an appeal to the Commissioner, two of the five student-athletes were reinstated and the school was permitted to participate in the 2007 state girls basketball series.
"There are serious problems within the Potter's House Christian athletic program," FHSAA Commissioner John A. Stewart said. "For this reason, I will be asking the Board of Directors to consider either the expulsion of Potter's House Christian from membership in the Association or the imposition of severe restrictions on the school's membership."
The school's principal is required to represent his school during this hearing. The Board of Directors may uphold the finding of the Commissioner, enact his recommendations, modify his recommendations or find in favor of the school. The decision of the Board of Directors is final.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle and senior public and private high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
Contacts:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
