Published: July 10, 2008 11:17 pm         

Board of Education rejects fourth-class proposal

CHARLESTON — The state Board of Education has turned aside another attempt to expand the state high school football playoffs.

The board voted 8-0 Thursday to reject adding a fourth championship classification for football, along with boys and girls basketball.

Paden City Principal Warren Grace had introduced the proposal, which was approved in April by the Secondary School Activities Commission’s Board of Control.

The one-sided vote was expected. Two years ago the state board unanimously rejected a proposal to create a fourth class just for football.

Critics claimed the latest proposal would have meant watered-down championships in a state that already has 48 of 120 schools reaching the football playoffs each season.

Last season eight football teams went to the postseason with four or more losses. Three girls basketball teams and four boys teams advanced to the state tournament in March with 10 or more losses.

Proponents said the current system makes it tougher for smaller schools to reach the playoffs because of the disparity in enrollment size within each of the three classes.

Board member Lowell Johnson had said counties are consolidating schools, not opening new ones, so the need for more classifications was unjustified. He cited pending consolidations in Mingo and McDowell counties that will close six schools in exchange for opening two. All of the schools slated to be closed are in Class A for the 2008-09 school year.

The state board also voted 8-0 not to extend the summer high school practice schedule from three to eight weeks. Board member Barbara Fish was absent.

SSAC Executive Director Gary Ray had said some coaches hoped to spend more time with players at a time when summer-league coaches already can work with them.

In other business, the state board re-elected Delores Cook as its president for 2008-09. She has been a board member since 2002.