October 19, 2004
Final appeals on conference placements for Arizona high schools for the coming two-year scheduling block were conducted Monday in Phoenix and the final count leaves 5A and 4A with 58 schools each.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board heard appeals from Paradise Valley, Tucson Sunnyside and Phoenix Shadow Mountain on Monday.
All were appealing to move down from 5A to 4A, and all had their appeals denied.
Formal approval was made on several schools who last week successfully appealed up or down at the conference level.
Appeals formally accepted Monday were: San Luis from 4A to 5A; Tucson Salpointe (4A to 5A); Phoenix St. Mary’s (3A to 5A); Notre Dame Prep (3A to 4A); Payson (4A to 3A) and Monument Valley (4A to 3A).
The 5A conference will meet Thursday to decide how it will realign for the coming two-year block. The 4A conference will hold its meeting next Monday.
Sid Bailey, 4A conference president, said Monday the league will still discuss the possibility of splitting in half despite coming in under the 60-school minimum it had projected for making a split.
"That’s an agenda item (Monday)," Bailey said. "We’ll look at it both ways. I know 5A is meeting Thursday and there is some talk they might split in half. If 5A decides to split we may get real serious about doing it, too. We’ll get a chance to see what they do first."
