CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The governing body for high school athletics in West Virginia is speeding up discussions on a potential fix for its four-level classification system.
First introduced for basketball only five years ago, expanding to football and other sports drew controversy.
West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission Executive Director David Price told WSAZ in December that the goal was a more competitive balance by classifying schools based on location and socioeconomics together with enrollment.
But some smaller schools cried foul, arguing they were unfairly placed with larger schools.
An appeals board decision in August led to the reclassification of nearly two dozen football teams during one week.
Now the WVSSAC will consider a permanent fix next week.
“I think it’s created a lot of confusion, and I think in my mind I think this is a great meeting to have that opportunity to clear some of those things up or have a simpler situation,” Price said Thursday.
Price told WSAZ by phone that school principals will meet next Thursday — six months early. He cited public comment requirements saying a meeting next April, as scheduled, would have delayed implementation until the 2026-27 school year.
“I think if they’re going to make a decision on this, it’s not something that we should wait on,” he said.
In preparation, the WVSSAC asked schools for their ideas. Price said some proposals say do nothing, while others support a return to considering only enrollment.
Principals, in their role as the Commission’s Board of Control, will try to reach agreement.
“The system as it is, now, simply put, do you believe it is fair?” asked WSAZ’s Curtis Johnson.
“I was asked the other day if I thought it’s meeting its intended purpose,” Price replied. “I think it’d be a different way to say it, rather than fair, and my answer would be, ‘I don’t know, because we didn’t give it a chance to work, and because there were changes made so quick before it even started.’”
Next week’s meeting will happen behind closed doors as Price says the WVSSAC is a private entity.
A WVSSAC official says any voted-upon change will be available for public release as soon as the meeting concludes.
From there, it will be considered by the state Board of Education. Successful implementation will require a total of 90 days public comment.
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