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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 10, 2006 OSAA districts upheld By Don Jepsen for the Mail Tribune SALEM — Saying her "hands were tied," state schools Superintendent Susan Castillo on Friday upheld a controversial new athletic classification for high school sports. The six-tier system, adopted by the Oregon School Activities Association in October to improve competitiveness, triggered vigorous challenges from Medford, Eugene and Salem-Keizer school districts. Under the new proposal, North and South Medford high schools will join a new league, the Southwest Conference, that will include South Eugene and Sheldon high schools. Redmond and the six Salem-Keizer high schools must travel back and forth over the Santiam Pass in a reconfigured sports conference. In legal briefs submitted first to a hearings officer and then to Castillo, the three districts expressed strong reservations over the costs of increased travel, winter driving conditions and lost class time from extended trips. They also argued OSAA violated state law by failing to secure approval from the State Board of Education. In issuing her decision, Castillo said, "I find that I have no basis to rule against the OSAA classification and redistricting on the facts of the case. My hands are tied." Medford schools Superintendent Phil Long had a more succinct observation. "It's a bitter pill to swallow," he said. Whether Medford joins the Eugene School District in a court appeal remains an "open question," Long said. He will bring the issue before the Medford School Board at its June 20 meeting. Anticipating approval of the OSAA realignment, the Eugene School Board on Wednesday authorized the district to mount a challenge before the Oregon Court of Appeals. The new leagues are to begin play in September. Medford School District counsel Timothy Gerking said concerns remain with local school officials about safety and lost class time, "but we've got to draw the line somewhere. There are legal expenses involved that could be better spent on our students." The OSAA has argued that lumping schools with similar enrollments would improve competitive balance. When the OSAA first proposed going from a 4A to 6A system based on enrollment, said Long, it was limited to football. "We supported that," he said. Somewhere along the line, Long said, the OSAA decided to include all sports. That bumps travel and related costs for the cash-strapped district, Long said, and takes away more time from classes for student athletes. There is also a loss of community, a "disconnect," Long said. For example, the end of a 100-year rivalry between Medford and Ashland, now a 5A school assigned to the Southern Sky Conference. In approving the order, Castillo acknowledged the concerns raised by the three dissenting school districts over student safety and loss of instructional time. She said she plans to introduce legislation in the next session of the Legislature requiring OSAA to prioritize its criteria, with safety and cost of travel the primary concerns. It is unclear whether a court appeal will further delay the new sports set-up. "The Appeals Court may not take this up until January," said Gene Evans, director of communications for the Department of Education. To halt the realignment, plaintiffs may have to seek an injunction until the court rules. Don Jepsen is a freelance writer living in Salem. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy