By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          There were two rounds of scuffling and message-boarding Wednesday regarding the GHSA and reclassification.

          The second one had some meat to it, especially with some Central Georgia programs. And Thursday will be of some serious substance.

          The GHSA announced that 12 schools had been approved to play in a higher classification, all from Class A to 2A, one from Class A to AAA and one to 4A, and others up one class in AA and AAA.

          No Central Georgia schools were on that list. Washington County, though, had asked to move down from Class AA and Class A/Division I, and it was approved, making it the fourth-largest Class A program. After more movements, Putnam County will drop down to Class A from AA.

          The latest placements can be found here.

          The GHSA is returning to six classifications, seven overall with Class A split into divisions.

          There are two classification numbers: actual enrollment, as per figures submitted to the state’s Department of Education, and the reclassification figure, which includes an out-of-zone multiplier of 2, for students attending a school in a different zone.

          This is the first year a new rule is in place, that students enrolled in an out-of-zone school as of fifth grade don’t count in the high school multiplier.

          Schools had until noon Wednesday to review the latest placements after the first round of appeals and make a move. Thursday, the reclassification committee meets in Thomaston to vote on a slew of further appeals for programs wanting to move down a class or two.

          Then the GHSA will put teams in regions, with appeals to follow that as well. In the last round of reclassification, two years ago, the committee met five times in November and December.

          Houston County is appealing to move from 6A to 5A, Warner Robins seeks a drop from 5A to 4A, and Central from 3A to A. Based on current recalls numbers, Houston County is the third-smallest 6A school, while Warner Robins is the sixth-smallest 5A school. Central’s FTE figure puts it in the top 20 percent in Class A.

          If approved, Houston County would be in the same classification as Veterans and Northside, while Warner Robins would join Perry and Jones County in 4A.

          Warner Robins’ drop would eliminate a probably Central Georgia-heavy region with those four programs. And it would likely be part of a spread-out region with Perry and Jones County and perhaps programs in the Henry County area that currently make up Region 2-5A, like Ola, Locust Grove, as well as perhaps Stockbridge and Griffin, among the possibilities.

          There are some oddities involving Central Georgia schools that are likely to be cleared up during the upcoming meetings.

          Westside is currently in 4A but listed in AA for reclassification. As of Wednesday evening, the school appears set to remain in AA, so what may change, if anything, down the line is difficult to ascertain.

          The current Macon-Columbus AA region will be broken up, as of now, with ACE, Northeast and Southwest apparently dropping to Class A.

          Officials from schools throughout the state will consult in hopes of figuring options for regions regarding travel and competitiveness.

          Washington County is the only change from the classification figures released last week:

Central Georgia’s classifications (in order of reclassification figure)
          Class 6A: Houston County (appealing to Class 5A)
          Class 5A: Veterans, Northside, Warner Robins (appealing to Class 4A)
          Class 4A: Perry, Jones County
          Class 3A: Central (appealing to Class A), West Laurens, Baldwin, Mary Persons, Howard, Peach County, Upson-Lee
          Class AA: Westside, Rutland,
          Class A/Division I: Putnam County, Washington County, Lamar County, Southwest, Dodge County, Northeast, Jasper County, ACE Charter, Bleckley County, East Laurens, Dublin,

            Class A/Division II: Crawford County, GMC Prep, Hawkinsville, Taylor County, Wilkinson County, Macon County, Twiggs County, Hancock Central