Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411290020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S13 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Under the proposal, a school's classification (Group AAA, AA or A) would be decided on enrollments for the top four grades starting in 1996-97 if approved next spring at the VHSL legislative council meeting.
These figures are only as a guideline to show schools what the new alignment would look like if changed. Classifications now are decided by enrollments of the top three grades.
After obtaining figures from the state department of education, the VHSL split the total number of schools into three equal groups. The cutoff for Group AAA is over 1,300 and for Group AA is 650-1,300.
Bassett is the only Timesland school that would change classifications in the new system. The Henry County school is currently Group A in size, but it will fall well into Group AA under the new guidelines.
This would make little difference because Bassett has participated as a Group AA school, as have several other A-sized schools in the Piedmont, including Timesland's Laurel Park and Fieldale-Collinsville.
Amherst County of the Seminole District would jump to Group AAA size and probably trade places with Heritage, which will still be Group AA in enrollment. The Pioneers are expected to drop to Region III in 1996-97 when the next classification changes occur.
E.C. Glass, which is also Group AA in size, would be AAA in the new setup. The Hilltoppers don't want to leave AAA unless forced to by lack of teams to play in this part of the state.
Otherwise, Timesland schools would not be affected except when splitting into football divisions. Then, there would be changes like this season when Pulaski County moved from Division 6 to Division 5 in Group AAA.
by CNB