They could stay six classes with largest, smallest schools separated.

There are a lot of possibilities when it comes to realignment in the TSSAA.

“When we met a couple weeks ago, the TSSAA staff had three-ring binders that are thicker than any notebook I ever used when I was in school,” Ricky Catlett said. “The papers in the binders have all the different scenarios of different realignment structures and what those realignments would look like if we went with those.”

Catlett is the principal at Chester County High School and the District 7 representative on the TSSAA’s Board of Control. District 7 includes every county from Henry to Fayette roughly along Interstate 40 with Madison and Carroll counties included.

Just like the representatives from Districts 7 and 8, the two rural West Tennessee districts, met this past week at University School of Jackson, Catlett met with just District 7 a week before at Chester County.

Local officials break down reclassification

“We had a good discussion among us, and I told them I wanted to know what they wanted me to do when we meet next month, and they told me,” Catlett said.

One plan a lot of schools in District 7 liked was one he brought up at this past week’s meeting. It involved splitting all sports into six classes and having Class A and Class 6A be made up of a certain number of the smallest and largest schools. The number mentioned at USJ this week was 60 for each class.

Then the remaining schools would be divided evenly to comprise the other four classes from 2A through 5A.

“That’s the one most of our schools really liked because it seemed to be the most fair for the most schools,” Catlett said. “Obviously there’s not going to be a system that makes everybody happy, but if we can determine the one that’s best for the most, that’s the one we need to go with.

“That’s the one that’s the best for the most in District 7.”

The number 60 might be a little large since the current even six-class system proposal has 49 schools in five classes and 48 in the sixth.

The biggest obstacle to this passing is whether or not at least seven of the 12 Board of Control members can be convinced six classes aren’t too many for other sports like basketball, baseball and softball.

“We won’t know for sure until we get to the meeting next month and discuss and vote,” Catlett said. “But if changes need to be made, then let’s make them.”

Brandon Shields, 425-9751