ClassBEast wrote:However, Townsend said he is in favor of the change.
“I think it’s just equity amongst the schools,” said Townsend, whose program would be one of the smallest in the new B Division with an enrollment of about 85 in grades 9-12.
“These smaller schools are starting to hurt for numbers. … I think (three divisions) will (become reality).”
Also the athletic director at Fairmount High School, Townsend said his and other small schools in North Dakota have been limited due to declining enrollment.
F-C-T has projected declining numbers for students out for athletics each year through 2015, Townsend said.
“We don’t have much to work with in practice,” he said. “My assistant and I have had to jump in to practices to give our girls a different look. On the boys team, we’ve had to pull up 7th and 8th graders to our junior varsity.”
digger wrote:This is a done deal. Glance through my posts above and you can quickly pick up my thoughts on the subject. The light bulb finally went on last night. When it became obvious to those who wanted this (three class system) that it did not have popular support and would not happen through the existing procedure things started happening: 1) Keep the issue alive by constantly revisiting it, it must be good and true if it keeps coming up right? (see my post above): 2) Get the word out that there is a large disparity in competitive balance (Turtle Lake and Parshall notwithstanding, not to mention BCN, Richland, North Sargent, Steele-Dawson, etc), repeat this over and over without citing facts; 3)Crank up the heat by putting Valley City into Class B and then in a mind numbingly illogical twist, put them in District 5 instead of District 2 Region 1 where they would actually fit. "This can't be, something must be done, Valley City will be the scourge of Class B".; 4) Finally, oh by the way, the bylaws are changing, the board can now regulate basketball without a vote by the whole membership. No fuss, no mess.
Lest you think I'm a grumpy old man who sits on my front porch and yells at the neighborhood kids to get off my lawn, while yearning for the good old days of milkmen, drive-ins, sock hops, and cap guns, resistant to any change; I'm not. Well, maybe a little. Just been around the dance floor a few times.
digger wrote:ClassBEast wrote:However, Townsend said he is in favor of the change.
“I think it’s just equity amongst the schools,” said Townsend, whose program would be one of the smallest in the new B Division with an enrollment of about 85 in grades 9-12.
“These smaller schools are starting to hurt for numbers. … I think (three divisions) will (become reality).”
Also the athletic director at Fairmount High School, Townsend said his and other small schools in North Dakota have been limited due to declining enrollment.
F-C-T has projected declining numbers for students out for athletics each year through 2015, Townsend said.
“We don’t have much to work with in practice,” he said. “My assistant and I have had to jump in to practices to give our girls a different look. On the boys team, we’ve had to pull up 7th and 8th graders to our junior varsity.”
I thank Mr. Townsend for making my point for me. Small schools starting to hurt for numbers you say? A declining number of students out for athletics? 7th and 8th graders being pulled up to Junior Varsity? A simple yet serious question must follow: How will a 3 class system fix this? It won't. Still be hurting for numbers, their projections will remain the same, and the same 7th and 8th graders will still be pulled up to JV. They are still going to be competing against teams that will never even have to consider pulling up middle school kids to fill out a roster. I completely understand the issue of declining enrollments, this is why co-ops and consolidations are necessary. Economics demand it. Good schools are expensive. Athletics and other extracurriculars are a drain, necessary but a drain. The proposed 3-class system will not solve FCT's (or any other schools) problems.
ndlionsfan wrote:I agree with all of your points except #10. The way the board words it, the boys and girls regionals and state will be held at the same venue. Two different days will be used for the quarterfinals (one night boys another night girls), then the semis and the finals the boys and girls will be played on the same night, alternating games. This will cut down a bit on the March schedule I think.
ClassBEast wrote:McFeely has a good blog on the topic with lots of comments by readers to explore...
http://www.areavoices.com/mcfeely/
NDSportsFan wrote:There are going to be input meetings at these times and places:
Regional Administrator Input Meetings:
February 11 – 1:00 p.m. (local time)
NW ‐ Minot Holiday Inn
SE ‐ Valley City High School Activities Center
February 18 – 1:00 p.m. (local time)
NE – Grand Forks Holiday Inn
SW – Dickinson State University Student Center
The complete rundown of the proposal is at http://www.ndhsaa.org/files/3DivProposal_1_27_09.pdf.
If you feel strongly about this please show up and let them know. These will be the only chances you get to voice your opinion before the vote.
scruffy wrote:Talked with a couple of people who attended the meeting in Dickinson. Sounds like many doubts about the plan were brought up but those in attendance said they got the feeling that the associations mind is made up. A three class system is coming! They said they feel the meetings were held just to make it look like the door was still open to a two class system.
riders wrote:this way instead of having dickinson trinity vs. heart river or another team with half the student body of trinity, it will be more even competition on each level. it will change class AA in no way. A will be the larger, currently class B schools, and B will be the lower level and low numbers schools. i think that if anything, it will promote a higher level of competition on the lower two levels.
larrybird33 wrote:Right, and we should note that "Heart River" is the combined enrollment of South Heart and Belfield.
South Heart is smaller than Trinity. Belfield is smaller than Trinity. Combined, their athletic co-op is bigger.
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