Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Short
The entire membership of the Virginia High School League will vote on new high school athletic districts because a special committee couldn't choose between two plans, the league said Monday.
Under both plans, high schools in the state would be ranked from the largest to the smallest enrollments. The top third would be placed in Group AAA, the middle third in Group AA and the lower third in Group A.
Under one plan, teams would not be allowed to play in a district with larger schools. Under the other, they would.
The committee met Thursday and Friday, but its tie vote means the state's 285 high schools will have to decide between two plans, said Kenneth G. Tilley, the league's executive director.
Athletic districts, used for competition in everything from football to forensics, were last rearranged in 1975, Tilley said. ``We've been living with that ever since,'' he said.
He said some sort of redistricting is necessary to solve scheduling and competition problems for some schools.
For instance, the five high schools in Norfolk are in the Group AAA Eastern District with no other schools. The district is surrounded by districts with eight, 10 and 11 teams.
Because the larger districts fill their football schedules with district games, Norfolk schools have difficulty scheduling non-district games.
Regions must meet by Aug 17 to forward a recommendation to the committee. The league's executive committee is expected to approve a plan in September.
by CNB