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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 13, 2007 Attorneys challenge new OSAA divisions Lawyers for Medford, two other districts tell appeals judges that state didn't OK enrollment plan By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — Lawyers for the Medford School District and others argued in the Oregon Court of Appeals Monday that a new high school athletic classification system was invalid. The three-judge panel heard oral arguments from the Medford, Eugene and Salem school districts challenging the Oregon School Activities Association's decision to expand the old 4A classification system into six ratings based on enrollment. The decision put North and South Medford high schools, the two largest in Jackson County, in a league with two Eugene schools — Sheldon and South Eugene — and shifted Redmond into a conference of Salem schools. All were reclassified 6A. The new league configurations were effective for the 2006-07 season and will be reviewed by OSAA in four years for possible adjustments. The districts argued that OSAA failed to get the approval of the state Board of Education when it set the enrollment benchmarks, therefore making the plan invalid. They asked the court to invalidate the plan and send it back to be reworked. Advertisement OSAA attorneys contended adopting enrollment benchmarks did not violate state law, but were merely a logical follow-up of a separate provision that made enrollment one of nine factors to be considered, which included travel distances, how much time students would lose in school, costs and competitive parity. Tim Gerking, attorney for the Medford School District, argued that the state education panel has to consider every issue, including enrollment classification break points. "We can't ignore how they got to the final order," he said. The issue heated up in August, when Susan Castillo, state superintendent of public instruction, accepted a hearings examiner's report that the new proposal violated the law on the enrollment issue. But the board overruled her order to return the re-classification to the OSAA for retooling. She said that left her with no option but to approve it. Also attending the hearing was Doug Jantzi, Medford director of secondary education and athletics. "I'm pretty much here to show support," he said, adding he has been "living this issue" for the past year or so. The judges peppered the attorneys on both sides with questions, primarily on whether the enrollment cutoffs constituted a criteria in the legislative sense and thus were subject to board review. "It's the concept that I'm trying to get my hands around," said Judge Rick Haselton, who presided. "Is it a criteria, or a result of the application of a criteria?" he asked. Other jurists questioned whether it was in their scope of power to make a determination that rightly belongs with the Legislature. The judges did not indicate when they would rule in the case. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary