Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
At a Monday meeting called specifically to balance the 39 teams of the two regions, the officers suggested that the Blue Ridge District (Salem, William Byrd, Lord Botetourt, Alleghany, Rockbridge County and Northside) move to Region IV and form a district with Christiansburg and Blacksburg. The other 10 Region IV schools would comprise another district. In that case, Region IV would be made up of only two districts.
In another proposal, four Henry County schools, Martinsville, Patrick County and three Pittsylvania schools would move to Region IV instead of the Blue Ridge being changing. Then Region IV would set up new districts.
Monday's meeting was held in response to the Virginia High School League's reclassification committee that suggested regions III and IV work out their own problems of balancing the numbers of school in each league. Currently, there are 27 schools in Region III and only 12 in Region IV.
The two proposals, which will be effective for the 1996-97 school year, will be sent to schools that were not present at Monday's meeting. There will be another meeting here a week from today involving Region IV and all the schools from Region III that might be shifted to come up with two balanced leagues.
The officers discussed several other suggestions before coming up with the proposals. If action is taken at next week's meeting, the problem will be solved for the present. If not, there could be more dialogue or the two regions might turn it over to the VHSL to make a decision.
There was little reaction from representatives of the Blue Ridge District on being moved to Region IV with the exception of Alleghany principal Phil Douglas. He pointed out that his school, along with Rockbridge, would have a lot of travel if the Blue Ridge moved into Region IV.
In trying to make it easier for Alleghany, the officers made a proposal that would have Carroll County, currently aligned with Blacksburg and Christiansburg in the New River District, joining the other nine schools in Region IV. This would make travel easier for Rockbridge County and Alleghany.
It had been previously reported that Magna Vista, Fieldale-Collinsville, Bassett, Laurel Park, Martinsville and Patrick County were willing to move as long as the Blue Ridge District wasn't. Monday, it was revealed that Chatham, Tunstall and Dan River also wanted to come if those schools moved. The only Piedmont District school that didn't want to move to Region IV was Gretna.
by CNB