VHSL appeal results are up

[mike salem]

http://www.vhsl.org/doc/upload/alignment-action-on-appeals--8-4-161.pdf

 

[mike salem]

1. Abingdon: Approved (13-0) Abingdon’s request to move from Southwest District to Mountain District.
2. Alleghany: Denied (0-13) Alleghany’s request to be placed in 2A classification rather than 3A
classification where the March 31, 2016 ADM numbers place them and move from Region 3A West to
Region 2A Central.
Alleghany: Approved (13-0) their request to move from the Blue Ridge District to the Three Rivers
District.
3. Atlee: Approved (13-0) the Hanover County Superintendent’s and Atlee High School’s request that
Atlee move from 5A North Region to 5A Central Region beginning with the 2017-18 and 2018-19
alignment cycle. There would be no change in district (Capital).
4. Auburn: Approved (13-0) Auburn’s request to move from the Three Rivers District to the Mountain
Empire District.
5. Bassett: Denied (0-13) Bassett’s requests to be placed in 3A Classification rather than 4A Classification
where the March 31, 2016 ADM numbers place them.
6. Carroll County: Approved (13-0) Carroll County’s requests to move from the River Ridge District to the
Three Rivers District, moving from a primarily 3A/4A district to a 1A/2A district.
7. Christiansburg: WITHDREW their request to move from the River Ridge District to the Three Rivers
District.
8. Eastern View: Approved (13-0) Eastern View’s requests to remain in 4A Central Region as originally
assigned and be placed in the Battlefield District.
9. George Marshall: Approved (13-0) George Marshall’s request to move into Region 4, 6A Classification
and remain in their current district.
10. George Wythe (W): Approved (13-0) George Wythe’s request to move from the Hogoheegee District to
the Mountain Empire District.
Move from the Hogoheegee District to the Mountain Empire District.
11. Grayson County: No vote needed on Grayson’s request to remain in the Mountain Empire District after
previously being approved to move to Southwest District since the Executive Committee never approved
the previous move.
12. JEB Stuart: Approved (13-0) JEB Stuart’s request to be place in Region 3, 6A Classification and remain in
their current district, National District.
13. Loudoun County Schools (Heritage (LC), Rock Ridge, Riverside, Freedom and Loudoun Valley):
Approved (13-0) several Loudoun County Schools and the Loudoun County’s Central Office request that
for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 alignment cycle, district alignment be determined by each school’s
classification, placing all 4A schools in the Dulles District and all 5A schools in the Potomac District.
14. Marion Sr.: Approved (13-0) Marion Senior’s request to be moved from Hogoheegee District to
Southwest District beginning with the 2017-18 and 2018-19 alignment cycle. There would be no change
in regions.
15. Narrows: Approved (13-0) Narrow’s requests to move from the Mountain Empire District to the
Pioneer District.
16. Nelson County: Approved (13-0) Nelson County’s request to be removed from the Northern Region and
be placed into the Central Region since their request to join Shenandoah District was denied and they
will remain in the Dogwood District.
17. Northwestern District: Approved (13-0) the principals of the Northwestern District’s request to form a
13-team district to include the following schools (Evergreen District will dissolve and Eastern View has
been granted their appeal to move to Battlefield District):
Northwestern District:
Brentsville District Manassas Park
Culpeper County Millbrook
Fauquier County Sherando
James Wood Skyline
John Handley Warren County
Kettle Run William Monroe
Liberty (Bealeton)
18. Patrick County: Denied (0-13) Patrick County’s request to be placed in 2A Classification rather than 3A
Classification where the March 31, 2016 ADM numbers place them.
19. Prince William County: Approved (13-0) Prince William County Schools Administration’s request to
split Prince William County/Manassas City schools into two separate districts beginning with the 2017-
18 and 2018-19 alignment cycle. There would be an eastern district and a western district.
Eastern District Western District
Colgan Battlefield
Forest Park Osbourn
Freedom Osbourn Park
Gar-Field Patriot
Hylton Stonewall Jackson
Potomac
Woodbridge
20. R. E. Lee (Staunton): Approved (13-0) R. E. Lee’s request to move from the Valley District to the
Shenandoah District.
21. Rural Retreat: Approved (13-0) Rockbridge County’s request to move from the Hogoheegee District to
the Mountain Empire District.
22. Sherando: Approved (13-0) Sherando’s request to remain in North Region, 4A Classification rather than
their 5A Classification based on PM 10-1-1 ADM Changes.
23. William Byrd: Denied (0-13) William Byrd’s request to be placed in the 3A Classification rather than the
4A Classification where the March 31, 2016 ADM numbers place them.
Placed the following two schools in appropriate region based on their move from 4A to 5A.
(1) Harrisonburg and William Fleming placed in 5A West Region.
Recommendations to September Executive Committee:
A. Renaming Regions: The Alignment Committee approved renaming the classifications to a number (dropping the
“A”) and the regions to a letter (A, B, C, D). The new classifications and regions renaming is noted below:
CLASSIFICATION REGIONS
6 A, B, C D
5 A, B, C, D
4 A, B, C, D
3 A, B, C, D
2 A, B, C D
1 A, B, C, D
B. Defining factors for off-year consideration:
1. Logic: (a) Opportunity for level playing field for competition
(b) Shared activities
(c) Dealing with island situations
(d) New organization considerations
2. Size
3. Expenses: (a) Schools/travel
(b) More instructional time in building
(c) Historical/rivalries – gate receipts
4. Geography
5. Profit: (1) Maximize gate receipts
(2) Funding your athletic programs
(3) Consideration of VHSL athletic/activity revenue/programming
C. Future Criteria on 5% Buffer Year:
(1) Bubble schools continue to bounce classifications and placements in regions
(2) Schools stay in their district assignment until the end of the classification cycle (4th year). No switching
districts in buffer years.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

What does it mean, "bubble schools continue to bounce..."?

 

[DinwiddieProud]

What are the surprises? Christianburg withdrawing their request to change districts surprised me. I wonder if they knew they didn't have the votes?

Also, I was a little surprised Sherando prevailed. I guess they were able to prove the ADM was skewed because of students attending special academic opportunities there at Sherando?

 

[1MoreHokie]

Sherando is kicking and screaming not to be 5A lol.

 

[Shruikan]

Oh boy, I can't wait for certain posters to roll in with the anti-Sherando stuff. How dare they be in the classification the correct numbers say they should be, it's a conspiracy! Mr. Nelson must be in bed with the VHSL heads, or maybe the Illuminati intervened.

Shouldn't be too long now.

 

[shauntclair]

Oh boy, I can't wait for certain posters to roll in with the anti-Sherando stuff. How dare they be in the classification the correct numbers say they should be, it's a conspiracy! Mr. Nelson must be in bed with the VHSL heads, or maybe the Illuminati intervened.

Shouldn't be too long now.

The VHSL has actually been consistent here. They've made a line and hold to the numbers. If the ADMs were wrong, they have no qualms about making the proper adjustment and being fair. GL to the Warriors this year.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Thanks for the update Mike! Hate that Patrick Co couldn't move to 2a. Would love to see them move to the Three Rivers District. Bassett on the other hand ought to be ashamed of themselves. If they would've been approved to 2a, I don't think it would've mattered from a competitive standpoint. Time for new leadership in that part of Henry County.

 

[otnorot]

What does it mean, "bubble schools continue to bounce..."?

I think it just means that teams can still be moved up or down a class halfway through the cycle if their enrollment has changed enough. Whereas they are not going to let teams change district mid-cycle in the future.

 

[mike salem]

What are the surprises? Christianburg withdrawing their request to change districts surprised me. I wonder if they knew they didn't have the votes?

Also, I was a little surprised Sherando prevailed. I guess they were able to prove the ADM was skewed because of students attending special academic opportunities there at Sherando?

I think you're probably right about Christiansburg, maybe too many teams in the 3RD now with the new additions?

 

[Lafayette]

Is this list of appeals acted upon for the entire state? I see no appeals for the entire Tidewater area.

 

[95mv]

Thanks for the update Mike! Hate that Patrick Co couldn't move to 2a. Would love to see them move to the Three Rivers District. Bassett on the other hand ought to be ashamed of themselves. If they would've been approved to 2a, I don't think it would've mattered from a competitive standpoint. Time for new leadership in that part of Henry County.

Bassett is 4a trying to go to 3a, there right on the cutoff

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Hate to beat the same dead horse, but all these schools suddenly wanting to leave districts that they've been in forever for what appear on the surface to be minimal gains at best really has me baffled. Auburn, Alleghany, Narrows, GW (Wytheville), Rural Retreat, James River - all leaving their decades-old homes for the allure of greener pastures. Others like C'burg and Patrick Co. tried and failed. What gives with the sudden district-switching trend?

Also, what's the deal with the megadistrict, the Northwestern? Why is one thirteen-school district better than two separate districts?

 

[mike salem]

Bassett is 4a trying to go to 3a, there right on the cutoff

Unfortunately, Bassett was denied in their appeal to move down to 3A. Only 1 was allowed to move down from their 2017 classification and that was because of an ADM mistake or adjustment.

 

[Shruikan]

The VHSL has actually been consistent here. They've made a line and hold to the numbers. If the ADMs were wrong, they have no qualms about making the proper adjustment and being fair. GL to the Warriors this year.

Agreed 100%. If the numbers said 5A, they should've absolutely been moved up. I wasn't referring to any of the regular posters here, just the people who show up a couple times a year to bash Sherando for whatever reason, and then disappear again until the next opportunity for them to troll arises.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Is this list of appeals acted upon for the entire state? I see no appeals for the entire Tidewater area.

I'm pretty sure the meeting encompassed the entire state. I assume there were simply no appeals from the Tidewater area?

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I think it just means that teams can still be moved up or down a class halfway through the cycle if their enrollment has changed enough. Whereas they are not going to let teams change district mid-cycle in the future.

Thank you!

 

[MntnrMark]

Does anyone have a link to a site where the schools in the respective A, B, C and D regions are identified? I had a spreadsheet that had them all slotted when the VHSL was going to call them things like "Northeast", "Central" "Southeast", etc. instead of the letter designations they've now settled on, but today's Roanoke Times only identified the letters for the Timesland area schools and I need the whole state. THANK YOU to whoever can help on this one.

 

[New Guy 17]

Agreed 100%. If the numbers said 5A, they should've absolutely been moved up. I wasn't referring to any of the regular posters here, just the people who show up a couple times a year to bash Sherando for whatever reason, and then disappear again until the next opportunity for them to troll arises.

Sherando approved to stay in Group 4A; Northwestern District adding eight teams
By Tommy Keeler Jr.
10:18 pm Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Virginia High School League realignment committee, on Thursday, approved Sherando’s appeal to stay in Group 4A and the Northwestern District’s proposal to expand to 13 teams starting with 2017-18 school year.

Sherando was originally slated to move to Group 5A next year when the VHSL released its realignment proposal in June. In the latest average daily membership numbers released by the VHSL, Sherando was listed with 1,533 students.

Sherando Coordinator of Student Activities Jason Barbe said that the March 31 ADM numbers are the average daily attendance from the first day of school to March 31. He said that every school has their numbers adjusted based on certain criteria by the VHSL. He said that there are certain populations that don’t count against your ADM. Barbe said they felt the numbers weren’t adjusted properly, and the VHSL agreed. The new adjusted number was 1,522 students, which put them below the Group 5A mark of 1,526.

“We said all along we just wanted to be where we belonged, and I’ve been cautiously optimistic that our actual number was going to put us in that range and we’re pleased that it did,” Barbe said.

Barbe said it wasn’t so much an appeal as it was making sure their numbers were accurate.

“In explaining (the adjusted number) to the Virginia High School League they were in agreement with that as well. What really happens is, then, that is presented to the appeals committee,” Barbe said. “So it wasn’t really an appeal it’s like, ‘Hey Sherando’s number is 1,522, so we got to stick them back in 4A.’ It wasn’t like we were asking the appeals committee for that. We had to justify what our number was to the state.”

VHSL Communications Director Mike McCall said that Frederick County superintendent David Sovine sent a letter to the VHSL explaining the numbers and the alignment committee approved the appeal 13-0.

McCall said it was approved under the policy manual 10-1-1 rule. The rule states that any changes or corrections to the school’s ADM must be corroborated by the school division superintendent and must be filed with the VHSL office in accordance with deadlines established by the Alignment Committee.

“The superintendent did exactly what they were supposed to do, and the appeals committee heard it and saw that the policy was followed and it was approved,” McCall said.

Sherando had not been placed in a region originally, and will now likely be placed in the same region with the other Winchester City/Frederick County schools.

The school will also be in a bigger district in 2017-18 as the Northwestern District expands from five schools to 13. Sherando, Skyline, Warren County, Brentsville, Culpeper County, Fauquier, James Wood, Handley, Kettle Run, Liberty (Bealeton), Manassas Park, Millbrook and William Monroe will be the schools in the district. The expansion was approved 13-0 on Thursday.

“It’s a good thing. There was some question about whether it would get accepted or not,” Skyline athletic director Bill Cupp said. “I’m glad the league approved the appeal. … For us as a school, we will still be the smallest school in the Northwestern District. But we will go from being the smallest school (in the district) with the next biggest being four or five hundred students larger, to having schools that are within one hundred students of us.”

Cupp said the travel aspect won’t change much, since most of the schools in the district they already play in their non-district schedule.

There will be seven Group 4A schools and six Group 3A schools. In most sports the Group 3A schools would play each other twice and the 4A schools would play each other twice. Then each team can play some of the other teams in the district, not in their classification, once if they want to, which would make scheduling games easier.

One of the biggest positives for Skyline is having Warren County back in the same district. Warren County is currently in the Bull Run District.

“I think that’s the big key to it,” Cupp said. “Right now we’re always going to get compared to Warren, and how well they’re doing and how well we’re doing. The last couple years with us being in two different districts it’s not an apples to apples comparison. … This way it allows the community to judge that. I think it will benefit both schools to play the same schools.”

Starting next year the postseason will begin with regional play, which is one reason Barbe said it made sense to expand the district. The district will just be used to schedule regular season games, but will not have an effect on postseason qualification.

“It’s certainly going to benefit all of us to have a larger pool of schools, all reasonably close together, with some history together, back in the Northwestern,” Barbe said. “Most all of these schools have been together in some form or another, from time to time. So it makes as a lot of sense for it to take place.”

With the loss of Warren County and William Monroe, the Bull Run District will only have six teams and only five for football.

The Shenandoah District added a team on Thursday as Robert E. Lee was approved to move from the Valley to the Shenandoah.

The VHSL Executive Committee will meet in September to give final approval on all of the realignment committee’s newest plans, but generally no changes are made by the executive committee.

Contact staff writer Tommy Keeler at 540-465-5137 ext. 168, or tkeeler@nvdaily.com

 

[Shruikan]

The new adjusted number was 1,522 students, which put them below the Group 5A mark of 1,526.

FCPS needs to get their act together. Sherando should be below 1450 by now I'd say, possibly lower. There's no reason at all to have nearly that many in one school, especially considering it has the exact same design and capacity as Millbrook. It was overcrowded when I was there and it's gotten even worse now.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

FCPS needs to get their act together. Sherando should be below 1450 by now I'd say, possibly lower. There's no reason at all to have nearly that many in one school, especially considering it has the exact same design and capacity as Millbrook. It was overcrowded when I was there and it's gotten even worse now.

What's the new avatar? Looks like a hawk's head, or something of the like.

 

[Shruikan]

What's the new avatar? Looks like a hawk's head, or something of the like.

It's a minimalist picture I edited. Originally was an eagle with a war bonnet-like crest of feathers on its head.

 

[OCBoy]

Hate to beat the same dead horse, but all these schools suddenly wanting to leave districts that they've been in forever for what appear on the surface to be minimal gains at best really has me baffled. Auburn, Alleghany, Narrows, GW (Wytheville), Rural Retreat, James River - all leaving their decades-old homes for the allure of greener pastures. Others like C'burg and Patrick Co. tried and failed. What gives with the sudden district-switching trend?

Also, what's the deal with the megadistrict, the Northwestern? Why is one thirteen-school district better than two separate districts?

I agree the mega district lost me. I don't see why Culpeper doesn't join the battlefield, William Monroe back to the Jefferson district and just send the Fauquier schools to the northwestern district. That leaves Manassas park and Brentsville which could be absorbed into either districts.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

I agree the mega district lost me. I don't see why Culpeper doesn't join the battlefield, William Monroe back to the Jefferson district and just send the Fauquier schools to the northwestern district. That leaves Manassas park and Brentsville which could be absorbed into either districts.

I understand it better now that I've read the article posted above by New Guy 17. But something like what you suggest seems to make as much sense.

 

[otnorot]

The enrollment projections I've seen make it pretty likely that George Mason will move up to 3A in 2019. I wonder if they'd look to move from the Bull Run to the Northwestern if that happens.

 

[schoolboard]

The big Northwestern District is for both monetary and competitive reasons. So that when teams keep moving up and down as populations rise and new schools open, you don't have to re-invent the wheel every two years, while also allowing good geographic scheduling

. The favorite tidbit out of my meeting this morning, is that Sherando might end up 3A when the new high school opens in Frederick County.

 

[Rev_Real]

The big Northwestern District is for both monetary and competitive reasons. So that when teams keep moving up and down as populations rise and new schools open, you don't have to re-invent the wheel every two years, while also allowing good geographic scheduling

. The favorite tidbit out of my meeting this morning, is that Sherando might end up 3A when the new high school opens in Frederick County.

lol

 

[OCBoy]

The big Northwestern District is for both monetary and competitive reasons. So that when teams keep moving up and down as populations rise and new schools open, you don't have to re-invent the wheel every two years, while also allowing good geographic scheduling

. The favorite tidbit out of my meeting this morning, is that Sherando might end up 3A when the new high school opens in Frederick County.

And when is that scheduled to open?

 

[mike salem]

And when is that scheduled to open?

Next century.

 

[New Guy 17]

Next century.

http://www.frederick.k12.va.us/cms/one.aspx?portalId=135936&pageId=205454

 

[Shruikan]

Next century.

Your generosity knows no bounds.