Houton Academy files grievance on reclassification vote, board to rule

Coaches were told to continue to finalize their schedules after Houston Academy filed a grievance with the Alabama High School Athletic Association on Wednesday after the Central Board of Control voted to approve the new realignment reclassification for the next two years, Andalusia coach Brian Seymore said.

Seymore said HA filed the agrievance because incorrect enrollment numbers were given to the State Board of Education. School enrollment numbers are based on how many students are in grades 10-12, and the Dothan School’s numbers indicate it has 263.25 students in grades 10-12.

The increase in the number of students bumped the school up to Class 3A after the vote.

On Wednesday morning, the AHSAA’s Central Board of Control approved a proposal to add a seventh classification for championship play at its winter meeting for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years.

In the same meeting, the board approved the reclassification realignment of the other schools in the state, which it does every two years.

Because of the vote, Andalusia is now in Class 4A, Region 2 with rival Straughn, who moved up from Class 3A.

Seymore said he’s assuming that his team is still a Region 2 team, until the board makes its ruling.

As a result of the grievance filed, it could change some schools’ classification and alignment for the next two years in all sports. The board still has to rule on the grievance.

Seymore, who heard of the news about HA yesterday afternoon, said this happened two years ago when Pope John Paul II’s numbers were incorrect, which sent the Bulldogs back to Region 1 from 2.

“You play where the state puts you,” Seymore said. “Whether we’ll stay the same, or we’ll go to Region 1 like we did two years ago when they didn’t count Pope John Paul II in Huntsville. It happens. They’ll have to make some adjustments.”

Seymore said he doesn’t know what’s going to happen as a result of the grievance, but added that Escambia County could drop back down to 4A from 5A, and W.S. Neal could go back down to 3A.

Additionally, Andalusia and Straughn’s area alignment in basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball could change, too.

Opp was voted to play in Class 3A, Region 1 in football, and will be in Area 2 for its other sports. In Region 1, the Bobcats play in a seven-team field with Bayside Academy, Cottage Hill, Excel, Geneva, Hillcrest-Evergreen and T.R. Miller.

In Class 1A, which shouldn’t be affected by the grievance, Pleasant Home, Florala and Red Level didn’t move in either classification or region in football.

For basketball, Pleasant Home and Florala stay in Area 2 with Kinston and new addition, Brantley; and Red Level moves back into a four-team area in Area 3 with J.F. Shields, Georgiana and McKenzie.

Florala will be playing in Class 1A, Area 2 with Brantley and Kinston in baseball, while RLS and PHS will be in Area 3 with McKenzie.

Florala and Pleasant Home are in Class 1A, Area 2 with Kinston, and Red Level is in Area 3 with Georgiana and Brantley.

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