OSAA considering league, conference changes that could affect some C.O. schools
(Update: Adding video, comments from Mountain View athletic director)
Two proposals would change schedules of some C.O. schools starting next year
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon School Activities Association released two draft proposals on Friday that could change divisions for Oregon high schools.
In one proposal, Oregon schools would stay in six classifications. The other plan would change from six classifications to five, making each league larger and would see Bend schools play Eugene and Medford schools.
Every four years, OSAA revisits its classification and districting setups based on school size.
Lance Haas, the athletic director at Mountain View High School told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday he would be in favor of a five-classification league, but has his own idea to create a more regional, Central Oregon league.
“If we went with a regional proposal, I’d hope we’d be able to fill our schedules locally to increase our class time, increase parents’ ability to go see a game and also increase the safety, so we are not traveling as much,” Haas said.
Haas and other Bend athletic directors have come together to work on a proposal that Haas will present at the next OSAA committee meeting, on Oct. 11.
"The proposal will put local schools together, but still give them local control over scheduling," Haas said. "It will also break off into classifications, so that everybody does have an equal opportunity to win a state title.”
At last week's OSAA classification and districting meeting, a representative from Salem schools said they are not in favor of staying in a league with Bend schools, because of the travel times.
“It’s a little hard to have an abundance of schools in the Valley to play and to be driving past some of those schools to drive to Bend,” North Salem High Athletic Director Brodie Cavaille said.
The OSAA Classification and Districting Committee plans to present final recommendations to the executive board on Dec. 13. The proposals would only affect non-football sports.
