Can anyone shed any light here?

 

Here's what the proposed realignment for 5A R4 would be:

 

D7:

Mercer Co., Lincoln Co., Pulaski Co., South Laurel, Southwestern

D8:

Clay Co., Letcher Co. Cent., North Laurel, Perry Co. Cent., Whitley Co.

That was odd, of course Southwestern was moved out of the district with Pulaski Co. and Somerset in basketball--I guess some strange moves have to be made to keep the number of teams in each district even.

I can somewhat see why they are not in the same district, buy looking at the teams, but I would switch them, North in D7 and South D8. Most of the schools in D8 will have to travel past South for a district game, while none would go past North.

I guess the same as basketball, to give them both a shot at a district title. That is all I can figure. I have no doubt they will still play each other every season, but the question in my mind would be 'if you did it for N and S Laurel, why not seperate SW and Pulaski Co as well'. I guess they are just trying to give the district's a little more diversity.

 

If that ends up being what happens, N Laurel got an easier (not easy, just easier) district than S Laurel IMHO. SL would get PC, SWP and Mercer? That could be a tough district.

Can anyone shed any light here?

 

Here's what the proposed realignment for 5A R4 would be:

 

D7:

Mercer Co., Lincoln Co., Pulaski Co., South Laurel, Southwestern

D8:

Clay Co., Letcher Co. Cent., North Laurel, Perry Co. Cent., Whitley Co.

 

It seems logical to me that South Laurel & Whitley Co. should switch districts. South Laurel is closer to every school in district 8 than Whitley is and each team will have to travel by South Laurel(with the posssible exception of Letcher Co. Central as I'm not sure how to get there) to go to a Whitley Co. home game. The travel time for Whitley would be similar in either district.

That would make no sense. South is only 20 minutes to SW and Pulaski. And they are much closer to Mercer and LIncoln.

 

To me, the Districts are fair and travel times are similar. I don't see any justification for switching either.

Somebody in Laurel has a lot of pull to keep them in separate districts. It makes no sense.

 

Harlan County should move to District 8 with North Laurel moving to District 7.

The same question applies in other sports as well. Is there any other school system in the state with only two high schools and having them placed in different districts?

 

And, if not, why does Laurel County merit such treatment?

Somebody in Laurel has a lot of pull to keep them in separate districts. It makes no sense.

 

Harlan County should move to District 8 with North Laurel moving to District 7.

 

This would appear to be a good plan in Harlan Co. lands in 5A. How far is Letcher Central from Whitley Co. and from North & South Laurel?

That would make no sense. South is only 20 minutes to SW and Pulaski. And they are much closer to Mercer and LIncoln.

 

To me, the Districts are fair and travel times are similar. I don't see any justification for switching either.

 

Actually it is over 30 miles from South Laurel to Somerset, North Laurel is only slightly shorter to Somerset by a few miles. It is at least a 45 min to an hour to each actual school. Whitley Co. would be to far to well over a hour in travel.

 

There is no reason for the two to be seperated, but if they do split them the logical option would be to have North Laurel in the Pulaski, SW, Mercer, Lincoln district as they have a straight shot to West 80.

Nice article in one of the local papers about the split and the impact on 2 smaller 4A schools who would become larger 5A schools with this proposal.

 

http://www.sentinel-echo.com/articles/2006/07/28/sports/sports01_districts.txt

 

Interesting quotes from both coaches (Chappel at S Laurel and Abbott at N Laurel) about the split and the impact on the schools, the playoffs, etc.

 

My favorite quote was from Coach Chappell on the issue of watering down the system with this type of split

 

“Do you think, if we won a state championship in 5A, it would mean any less to this community? I promise you it wouldn't.”

 

BTW, I agree that if they are going to split them, they should switched as NL is slightly closer to the schools in D7 than in D8.

Somebody in Laurel has a lot of pull to keep them in separate districts. It makes no sense.

 

Harlan County should move to District 8 with North Laurel moving to District 7.

That could happen except they are in different classes.

The same question applies in other sports as well. Is there any other school system in the state with only two high schools and having them placed in different districts?

 

And, if not, why does Laurel County merit such treatment?

1) The KHSAA cannot help where schools are built. Surely anyone could note North Laurel's proximity to Clay County compared to South.

2) How about Kenton County in basketball? Three schools, three (not districts) regions. If everyone wants districts to always be the same size, something has to give I think.

That could happen except they are in different classes.

 

What class will the new Harlan consilidation school (looking at the new alignment for 2007, not currently)?

What class will the new Harlan consilidation school (looking at the new alignment for 2007, not currently)?

 

 

The initial proposal has it 6A with Madison Central being the closest district game which would be about a 3 hour give or take 15-30 minute bus trip. I honestly don't see it being 6A. I'm thinking it could be 4 or 5A though.