Idaho High School Activities Association Adds Fifth Classification

In a state in which many believe there already are too many high school classifications, officials voted 8-4 Wednesday to add a fifth division.

The A-5 classification will be added beginning in 1998-99, Idaho High School Activities Association executive director Bill Young announced.

IHSAA board members had two options during their annual monthly meetings this week: 1) add the fifth division or 2) adjust the enrollment numbers for the existing divisions.

Either way, the new plan means the largest A-1 schools will be separated from the smallest A-1 schools. School officials from the smaller A-1 and larger A-2 schools were pushing for the fifth classification, Young said.

Under the new plan, Coeur d’Alene, Lake City, Post Falls and Sandpoint will become A-2 schools. Lewiston, however, will remain A-1 and be an independent in North Idaho.

The change in classification will bring four of the five Inland Empire League teams into alignment with Frontier League teams in Washington.

The IEL and Frontier will combine in boys and girls basketball next year in the new Border League. The schools hope to play a league schedule in the future in football and other minor sports.

Also under the new alignment, the Intermountain League teams except Moscow will drop from A-2 to A-3.

Timberlake, the soon-to-be built school in Spirit Lake which will open in ‘98, also is expected to be in A-3.

The new A-4 division in the Panhandle would include Falls Christian, Lakeside, Wallace and Potlatch. Those schools will likely form a league. Kootenai, Clark Fork and Mullan would be A-5 schools.

There could be some minor alterations since the new enrollment limitations must still be finalized.

The first reading for enrollment numbers will be in June with the final reading in August.

District I principals supported a fifth classification, Lake City principal John Brumley said.

The school left on the outside looking in will be Lewiston.

Brumley, formerly the principal at Coeur d’Alene when it was the lone school in town, remembers being in the same situation.

For about 10 years, CdA was in A-1 Division I for football while the other IEL teams played Division II.

Brumley expects the IEL teams to continue their relationship with Lewiston.

“Lewiston’s been a good member,” Brumley said. “I don’t see us taking a stance of not playing Lewiston.”

Long before the fifth classification goes into effect Brumley, suspects there will be another move for realignment.

“This will not end the debate or discussion,” Brumley said. “It seems we’re talking about this every other year.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MAKING THE ‘A’ LIST Recommended enrollments: A-1: 1,350 and above A-2: 800-1,349 A-3: 350-799 A-4: 151-349 A-5: 150 and below