The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission’s (SSAC) Board of Control’s voted overwhelming this week on a proposal to consider separating eight private schools into their own classification for post-season tournaments.
Coaches, administrators and fans in Class A have argued for years over the public vs private school issue, with no action taken.
The state board could elect to vote on the proposal or table it. It will be an uphill climb since a number of previous proposals to re-classify haven failed.
The SSAC’s legal counsel advised the Board of Control voters this week of legality issues, but it passed anyway, 100-24.
All eight private schools are in larger cities around the state. They include Huntington St. Joe, Parkersburg Catholic, Wheeling Central, Charleston Catholic, Greater Beckley Christian, Clarksburg Notre Dame, Trinity Christian in Morgantown and Weirton Madonna.
Another proposal that did move forward this week by a vote of 108-16 included schools having the option, per sport, to compete in one class above its designated classification from the SSAC over a four-year period.
The current rule obligates every sport to compete a classification higher if the school would make that choice to move up.
Williamson, now consolidated into Mingo Central, played up for several years despite having a Class A enrollment.
That same option would be afforded to Tug Valley, which classifies as a Class A school.