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GHSA
By Samantha Sinclair
Staff Writer
The latest reclassification proposal filed by the Georgia High School Association has Franklin County back in Region 8AAA.
The proposed new regions, released Wednesday afternoon, has Franklin County in 8AAA with Hart County, Stephens County, Oconee County and Monroe Area, all holdovers from the current region alignment, along with newcomer private school Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula.
Deputy Superintendent Chuck Colquitt reported to the Franklin County Board of Education Thursday night that the association contacted him the day prior that more changes would be made this month in Classes AAA, AA and A due to an issue involving private school placements.
The changes will add divisions to Class A, causing the three classes to be recalculated.
Colquitt said Franklin could be affected since it was one of the smallest schools in Class AAA.
“Based upon what we know, it is not likely to affect our region as it stands, but possibly could,” Colquitt said at the time.
He noted that some coaches had already started work on scheduling, but now “everything is up in the air.”
The association reclassified schools in November, and placed schools into regions based on school enrollment.
This year, the association weighted out of district students in its calculations with a multiplier of three, placing many private schools and city schools in higher classifications.
Franklin had an enrollment of 1,067 with six students reported as out of district, making its reclassification count 1,079.
Oconee, the largest school in AAA had a reclassification count of 1,260 including seven students reported as out of district.
Franklin, Stephens County and Hart County were originally moved to Region 7AAA with Dawson, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, West Hall and White.
After an appeals process, Franklin remained in 7AAA with Oconee, West Hall, White, Dawson, Lumpkin, Stephens and Hart.
The Reclassification Committee met Wednesday to hear appeals of placements from schools in Classes A, AA and AAA only, and post new region alignments after the meeting.
On Dec. 15, the committee planned to meet again to hear appeals for lateral transfers in the three classes, with new region alignments posted after the meeting.
On Jan. 10, the full state executive committee will meet to hear final appeals and ratify the reclassification proposals.