Board accepts change to Class B

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork School Board was faced with a big decison at last Wednesday's meeting after BHS received notice Nov. 5 from the Montana High School Association that the school's athletics and activities programs had been recommended to compete in Class B next year due to enrollment size. The school was given the option to petition MHSA by Nov. 14 to remain in Class A.

After hearing more than an hour of discussion from parents, coaches, community members and players from the BHS volleyball team, the Bigfork School Board voted to not appeal the MHSA's recommendation.

"We looked at travel, money, scholarships and all of the key points," Bigfork Superintendent of Schools and acting BHS principal Russ Kinzer said at the meeting, which was attended by about 40 people. "But what it came down to was whether our students could compete at a fair level. We have to do what's best for the kids. There are MHSA guidelines and they are there for a reason. Therefore, we are recommending to the board that we accept the move to Class B."

Kinzer's recommendation was made in partnership with BHS assistant principal Matt Jensen.

"I thought there was a lot of constructive conversation between both sides," said Jensen following the meeting. "I believe MHSA has set those classifications for a reason. For us to provide the best long-term equity for the school I feel that this is the best decision."

In a 4-2 decision, with one board member absent, factors of traveling time and distance were two of the biggest concerns the board listened to from parents and student-athletes.

"I'm not really excited about sending my daughter on an eight-hour journey across Montana for a game," said Diana Rahdert. "And I like the games being close enough for parents to go to."

Many parents and students shared their concerns about travel time cutting into homework and sleep time on school nights. While the point seemed to be well-noted, it was also pointed out that Bigfork has been lucky to have not had to travel very far for their games over the last several years considering the distances many schools in the state have to travel.

Soccer is the only sport that is not affected by the change. Class B schools do not compete in soccer so they are allowed to play up to Class A. Therefore, Bigfork's girls and boys soccer teams will not see any changes from the new classification.

With the exception of golf, the rest of BHS' sports will now compete in District 7B, which currently includes the schools Thompson Falls, Troy, Plains, Lincoln County from Eureka and St. Ignatius.

For golf, which is played in the spring in Class B and C, Bigfork will compete in Division 3, which includes Broadwater from Townsend, Lincoln County, Loyola Sacred Heart from Missoula, Manhattan, Manhattan Christian, Plains, Powell County from Deer Lodge, Seeley Swan, Sweet Grass County from Big Timber, Thompson Falls and Three Forks.

The administration researched the difference in time, miles and cost between the Northwest Class A schedule that Bigfork currently has, and the 7B schedule it will take on next year. Measurements were made from Bigfork to each of the playing sites in both of the conferences. The Class A schedule was 243.5 miles and five hours and 45 minutes each way. The Class B schedule was 457.1 miles and 10 hours and 12 minutes each way. The school administration said that those factors, as well as cost of the additional travel, would be a wash because the school would no longer have to travel long distances for non-conference games as it does now to places like Hamilton and Stevensville, and instead will play non-conference games against local Class A teams they play now.

Wayne Loeffler, the principal of Bigfork Middle School, was the BHS principal and activities director when the school moved up to Class A. He stated at the meeting that when the school went from Class B to Class A in the 1997-1998 school year that the travel distance increased by 2,500 miles; a number that has decreased as local schools' enrollments began to align with Bigfork's.

Another concern that was raised by attendees was the loss of local rivalries in the valley if Bigfork moved to Class B.

"We have rivalries and friends in the schools we play against now," said Mallery Knoll, a BHS sophomore who plays girls basketball and volleyball. "People like to watch us play those schools. We think that we're competitive in Class A besides one area. In girls sports we're competitive in Class A and we want to stay.

"I know that everyone is trying to do this for us. Maybe we're not as educated as we should be about this, but I haven't talked to anyone that plays sports that wants to go to Class B."

Other parents and coaches shared Knoll's concern about losing rivalries and playing in a less competitive conference.

Matt Porrovecchio, who serves as the school's assistant activities director, tennis coach and the librarian, was a student at BHS when the school competed in Class B.

"I think that the initial reaction is that we will lose some of those rivalries," he said. "But they don't just go away. There are others. I loved Class B. I loved the people we played against. I think the initial shock of moving is a lot at first. But once you get there you make new friends and you make new rivalries."

Proponents for both sides were frustrated with the time restraints put on the decision. Many parents, as well as the two board members that voted against allowing the move to Class B, Maureen Averill and Denny Sabo, wanted the board to appeal the move so that the community and the school could spend the next two years watching enrollment numbers and team success, as well as have additional time to review the data already acquired.

There were many parents who felt that the students should be involved in the decision as well, some even saying that the students should get to vote to decide whether an appeal should be made.

When the discussion finally moved to the board members,Trustee Paul Sandry moved to not petition to stay in Class A and Mike Roessmann seconded the motion.

"This is supposed to be about what is best for the kids," Sandry said. "The only thing I've heard about that isn't good for the kids is about travel. Kids on a bus for long trips is not about the kids as a whole. This is what is best for the kids as a whole.