Utah High School Activities Association executive director Evan Excell says progress is being made in terms of realignment - a process tackled every four years to maintain a competitive balance.
"I think they've come up with a viable plan," he said after the UHSAA Board of Trustees released its second draft earlier this week. "I think we are getting ever closer."The new proposal, which faces further scruntiny at an April 10th meeting before adoption June 11, will take effect beginning with the 1997-98 school year.
In a departure from the group's initial draft, the second proposal radically alters the current 5A classification while bolstering the 4A and 3A ranks. The state's largest circuit will include 21 as opposed to the current 27 schools - all with enrollments exceeding 1,700 students. The 4A class, meanwhile, will grow from 22 to 26 and 3A from 15 to 21.
The committee's proposed realignment is based on figures turned into the State Office of Education last October as well as projected enrollments. Exceptions were made in some cases by request and/or travel considerations. (Enrollment figures appear in parentheses).
UHSAA REALIGNMENT: Second Draft
Class 5A (1700 and higher)
Region 1 - Clearfield (1719), Cottonwood (1986), Davis (2136), Layton (1828), Northridge (1900), Skyline (1929), Viewmont (2027).
Region 2 - Bingham (2768), Copper Hills (1700), Granger (1816), Hunter (2150), Kearns (2178), Taylorsville (2290), West Jordan (2203).
Region 3 - Alta (2686), Brighton (2432), Hillcrest (2259), Jordan (1877), Mountain View (1732), Orem (1731), Timpanogos (1750).
Class 4A (1150-1699)
Region 4 - Bonneville (1600), Box Elder (1519), Fremont (1698), Logan (1180), Mountain Crest (1426), Roy (1396), Sky View (1541), Weber (1630).
Region 5 - Bountiful (1649), Cyprus (1472), East (1418), Highland (1624), Judge Memorial (703), Murray (1471), Olympus (1544), Tooele (1050), West (1555), Woods Cross (1542).
Region 6 - Alpine (1250), American Fork (1400), Payson (1322), Pleasant Grove (1450), Provo (1409), Spanish Fork (1502), Springville (1310), Timpview (1531).
Class 3A (500-1149)
Region 7 - Bear River (1038), Ben Lomond (1085), Granite (1110), Lehi (1033), Ogden (1101).
Region 8 - Morgan (513), Park City (681), Uintah (1320), Union (856), Wasatch (825).
Region 9 - Carbon (1133), Delta (629), Emery (823), North Sanpete (648), Richfield (602).
Region 10 - Canyon View (600), Cedar City (600), Dixie (1032), Hurricane (692), Pine View (942), Snow Canyon (947).
Class 2A (175-499)
Region 11 - Grantsville (415), Gunnison (307), Juab (410), Manti (467), North Summit (263), Rowland Hall (223), South Summit (282).
Region 12 - Beaver (278), Enterprise (204), Kanab (286), Millard (317), North Sevier (330), Parowan (226), South Sevier (370).
Region 13 - Grand (351), Monticello (192), San Juan (367).
Class 1A (174 and lower)
Region 14 East - Christian Heritage , Intermountain Christian , Manila , Mount Vernon , St. Joseph (160), Salt Lake Christian , Salt Lake Lutheran , Waterford (138).
Region 14 West - Dugway , Meridian , Shiloah Valley , Tintic , Wasatch Academy (118), Wendover (101), West Desert .
Region 15 - Bryce Valley , Escalante , Milford (109), Panguitch (154), Piute (118), Sorenson's Ranch , Valley , Wayne (151).
Region 16 North - Altamont (173), Duchesne (180), Rich (142), Tabiona .
Region 16 South - East Carbon (120), Green River , Monument Valley (134), Whitehorse (141).