Sunbright 2025

[TheTruthHurts22]

On 12/10/2024 at 2:46 PM, CYJACKETT said:

The idea of consolidating small schools in Morgan County into a single, larger school offers a variety of benefits that would address many of the challenges facing the current system. Here's why merging these schools into one larger, more competitive institution is a smart move:

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1. Improved Safety and Player Well-Being

• Current Risk of Injury: Small schools struggle with depth in their athletic programs, often forcing players to play both offense and defense with little rest. This increases the risk of injuries such as broken femurs and concussions, as seen already this year.
• Larger Team Size: A consolidated school would have a deeper pool of athletes, allowing for proper substitutions and specialized positions, reducing overuse injuries and improving overall player safety.

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2. Enhanced Competitiveness

• Relevant Competition: Combining resources would create a large enough student population to classify the school as a competitive 3A program. This would allow the school to play against schools like Kingston and Scott County, providing more balanced matchups and a chance for greater athletic success.
• State Relevance: A consolidated school would have a better chance to compete at the state level, bringing pride and recognition to Morgan County—a feat that is nearly impossible with four 1A schools splitting resources.

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3. Greater Resource Allocation

• Efficient Use of Funding: Consolidating four small schools into one larger school would reduce administrative overhead and allow more funds to be directed toward academics, extracurricular programs, and facilities.
• Better Facilities: Instead of maintaining multiple underfunded and outdated facilities, a single school could invest in state-of-the-art buildings, athletic fields, and equipment.
• Increased Opportunities: Students would have access to more advanced classes, extracurricular activities, and programs that small schools often can’t afford to offer.

---

4. Academic and Social Benefits

• Expanded Curriculum: A larger school would allow for a wider range of courses, including advanced placement classes, vocational training, and specialized electives. This would better prepare students for college and careers.
• Broader Social Network: Students would have the opportunity to meet and interact with a more diverse group of peers, promoting teamwork and broadening their social experiences.

---

5. Addressing Open Enrollment Challenges

• Equalizing Opportunities: Open enrollment has significantly impacted small programs by drawing students to larger, better-equipped schools outside the county. Consolidation would reduce this disparity, ensuring that all Morgan County students have access to high-quality education and competitive programs without needing to leave the area.

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6. Aligning with Statewide Trends

• Unique Situation: Morgan County is an anomaly in Tennessee, with four 1A schools in a single county. Larger counties often have only two high schools, making the current setup inefficient and unsustainable.
• Proven Success Elsewhere: Consolidation has been successfully implemented in other counties, resulting in stronger programs, increased community pride, and better outcomes for students.

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Conclusion

Consolidating Morgan County’s schools into one larger high school isn’t just about improving sports—it’s about creating a more equitable, competitive, and resource-efficient educational environment. A larger school would provide better opportunities for students academically, socially, and athletically, while reducing costs and inefficiencies. It’s time to set aside pride and consider what’s best for the students and the future of Morgan County.

Solid arguments, sounds like it should have been done years ago….whats the holdup? What are the cons just money and maybe some very long bus rides for some kids?

Here is my POV since I was a student at Clay County High School when we consolidated with Hermitage Springs, I can say first hand it helped both the athletics and academic departments, some teachers also from HS came with the students which was very beneficial to everyone because they were some good ones. We were also lucky enough to stay single A since HS isn’t a very big place. We had multiple kids from HS school help us be more competitive in all sports and still do to this day. Were there a couple scuffles and dust ups the first year and a half or so…..sure there were. We didn’t like them and they didn’t like us, but after we understood we needed them they were definitely at asset having them with us instead of against us. They even added purple to our color scheme which was diabolical to me at the time, but I’ve come to not hate it as much. 😂 

[rlh]

34 minutes ago, TheTruthHurts22 said:

Solid arguments, sounds like it should have been done years ago….whats the holdup? What are the cons just money and maybe some very long bus rides for some kids?

Here is my POV since I was a student at Clay County High School when we consolidated with Hermitage Springs, I can say first hand it helped both the athletics and academic departments, some teachers also from HS came with the students which was very beneficial to everyone because they were some good ones. We were also lucky enough to stay single A since HS isn’t a very big place. We had multiple kids from HS school help us be more competitive in all sports and still do to this day. Were there a couple scuffles and dust ups the first year and a half or so…..sure there were. We didn’t like them and they didn’t like us, but after we understood we needed them they were definitely at asset having them with us instead of against us. They even added purple to our color scheme which was diabolical to me at the time, but I’ve come to not hate it as much. 😂 

A hypothetical "Morgan County Central High" from merging Oakdale, Sunbright, Wartburg and Coalfield would be around 776 students making putting them in the bottom third of 4a schools which has teams like Alcoa the coming cycle.  Wartburg is a larger 1a school and has been 2a at time in the past.  Merging only Oakdale, Sunbright and Coalfield would create a 2a school with 435.  However, Wartburg is the more central town.  Either way it was done, busing would be a challenge given the terrain. A compromise would be to send the Sunbright students to Wartburg and the Oakdale students to Coalfield.

Edited December 12, 2024 by rlh

[TheTruthHurts22]

2 hours ago, rlh said:

A hypothetical "Morgan County Central High" from merging Oakdale, Sunbright, Wartburg and Coalfield would be around 776 students making putting them in the bottom third of 4a schools which has teams like Alcoa the coming cycle.  Wartburg is a larger 1a school and has been 2a at time in the past.  Merging only Oakdale, Sunbright and Coalfield would create a 2a school with 435.  However, Wartburg is the more central town.  Either way it was done, busing would be a challenge given the terrain. A compromise would be to send the Sunbright students to Wartburg and the Oakdale students to Coalfield.

I doubt Coalfield wants any part of merging it would be the other 3 schools that are in need of it more than them. Oakdale, Sunbright and Wartburg have all been pretty bad though so that would probably be a bad team that would still lose kids to Coalfield honestly. 

[OldTownRoad]

On 12/10/2024 at 2:46 PM, CYJACKETT said:

The idea of consolidating small schools in Morgan County into a single, larger school offers a variety of benefits that would address many of the challenges facing the current system. Here's why merging these schools into one larger, more competitive institution is a smart move:

---

1. Improved Safety and Player Well-Being

• Current Risk of Injury: Small schools struggle with depth in their athletic programs, often forcing players to play both offense and defense with little rest. This increases the risk of injuries such as broken femurs and concussions, as seen already this year.
• Larger Team Size: A consolidated school would have a deeper pool of athletes, allowing for proper substitutions and specialized positions, reducing overuse injuries and improving overall player safety.

---

2. Enhanced Competitiveness

• Relevant Competition: Combining resources would create a large enough student population to classify the school as a competitive 3A program. This would allow the school to play against schools like Kingston and Scott County, providing more balanced matchups and a chance for greater athletic success.
• State Relevance: A consolidated school would have a better chance to compete at the state level, bringing pride and recognition to Morgan County—a feat that is nearly impossible with four 1A schools splitting resources.

---

3. Greater Resource Allocation

• Efficient Use of Funding: Consolidating four small schools into one larger school would reduce administrative overhead and allow more funds to be directed toward academics, extracurricular programs, and facilities.
• Better Facilities: Instead of maintaining multiple underfunded and outdated facilities, a single school could invest in state-of-the-art buildings, athletic fields, and equipment.
• Increased Opportunities: Students would have access to more advanced classes, extracurricular activities, and programs that small schools often can’t afford to offer.

---

4. Academic and Social Benefits

• Expanded Curriculum: A larger school would allow for a wider range of courses, including advanced placement classes, vocational training, and specialized electives. This would better prepare students for college and careers.
• Broader Social Network: Students would have the opportunity to meet and interact with a more diverse group of peers, promoting teamwork and broadening their social experiences.

---

5. Addressing Open Enrollment Challenges

• Equalizing Opportunities: Open enrollment has significantly impacted small programs by drawing students to larger, better-equipped schools outside the county. Consolidation would reduce this disparity, ensuring that all Morgan County students have access to high-quality education and competitive programs without needing to leave the area.

---

6. Aligning with Statewide Trends

• Unique Situation: Morgan County is an anomaly in Tennessee, with four 1A schools in a single county. Larger counties often have only two high schools, making the current setup inefficient and unsustainable.
• Proven Success Elsewhere: Consolidation has been successfully implemented in other counties, resulting in stronger programs, increased community pride, and better outcomes for students.

---

Conclusion

Consolidating Morgan County’s schools into one larger high school isn’t just about improving sports—it’s about creating a more equitable, competitive, and resource-efficient educational environment. A larger school would provide better opportunities for students academically, socially, and athletically, while reducing costs and inefficiencies. It’s time to set aside pride and consider what’s best for the students and the future of Morgan County.

I think a better solution would be just to co-op for football, where safety is more overarching concern that giving all the kids an opportunity to play. For other sports like basketball/volleyball/baseball/softball, consolidation would eliminate several opportunities for kids to play. While the overall team might be better, isn't the point high school athletics to give kids a chance to compete and learn valuable life lessons. Having one team instead of four make them more competitive, it takes away more opportunities. As far as academics are concerned, having a smaller student-teacher ratio is essential to meeting the needs of every kid, which could be accomplished in either situation.

[rlh]

11 hours ago, TheTruthHurts22 said:

I doubt Coalfield wants any part of merging it would be the other 3 schools that are in need of it more than them. Oakdale, Sunbright and Wartburg have all been pretty bad though so that would probably be a bad team that would still lose kids to Coalfield honestly. 

That wasn't the point.  Wartburg is the second largest 1a school in the east.  Coalbucket isn't much bigger than Sunburnt or Oakdale. 

			2 Oakdale High School 128 1A 3 Sunbright High School 141 1A 4 Greenfield High School 162 1A 5 Cloudland High School 162 1A 6 Coalfield High School 162 1A
			46 Wartburg Central High School 345 1A

[CYJACKETT]

This isn’t the 80s when every small school in Morgan County had a big enough student body and a culture that naturally produced large football teams. Times have changed, and the reality is that fewer parents allow their kids to play physical sports like football due to concerns about injuries. For schools like Sunbright, Oakdale, and Wartburg, this decline in participation leaves their football teams severely short-handed, both in terms of roster depth and competitiveness.

The Coalfield Effect
Coalfield, despite having a small student population comparable to Wartburg, Sunbright and Oakdale, thrives in 1A football because it consistently attracts a bulk of the county's athletes. It’s almost as if Coalfield operates as an "athlete hub," drawing top players from across the county, while the other schools are left with minimal athletic resources and participation. This creates an imbalance, where one school in the county is loaded with talent while the others struggle to field full teams.

Enrollment Misconceptions
Wartburg's enrollment numbers can be misleading. It houses the county's special education department and alternative school programs, which inflate its numbers but don't contribute to athletic participation. When adjusted for actual athletic participation, Wartburg faces the same challenges as the other smaller schools. This structural issue amplifies the need for a consolidated county high school.

Consolidation Is the Solution
Morgan County needs to consider what other counties like Scott, Campbell, Clay, and Rhea have already done: consolidate into one central high school. A "Morgan County High School" would create a deeper athletic pool, ensuring all students—no matter where they live—have access to competitive sports and educational opportunities. It’s also worth noting that a high school football team should require a minimum of 28 players just to sustain a season. With the current setup, too many schools are dangerously close to not meeting that threshold.

Broader Benefits
Beyond athletics, consolidation would address other critical issues:

• Resource Efficiency: Instead of spreading limited funding across multiple outdated facilities, one school could allocate funds to state-of-the-art classrooms, athletic fields, and extracurricular programs.
• Academic Equity: A larger school could offer advanced placement courses, vocational training, and diverse extracurricular options, preparing students for college and careers in ways smaller schools simply can’t.
• Community Unity: One school could unite the entire county, building pride and giving all students equal access to opportunities. It’s time to stop dividing resources and start pooling them for the benefit of every student in Morgan County.

Addressing Concerns
Yes, busing and travel times are valid challenges, given the terrain of Morgan County. However, these are logistical issues that other counties have successfully solved through careful planning and investment. And while some worry about losing smaller-school identities, it’s important to prioritize the broader goal of giving all students a chance to thrive—academically, socially, and athletically.

The Bigger Picture
Small-school football works when there’s a large enough student body to support it. That’s no longer the case in Morgan County. Consolidation isn’t just about football; it’s about equity, efficiency, and giving every student the chance to succeed. Let’s learn from counties like Scott, Campbell, and Clay, who’ve embraced the benefits of centralization. It’s time for Morgan County to join them.

[rlh]

18 minutes ago, CYJACKETT said:

This isn’t the 80s when every small school in Morgan County had a big enough student body and a culture that naturally produced large football teams. Times have changed, and the reality is that fewer parents allow their kids to play physical sports like football due to concerns about injuries. For schools like Sunbright, Oakdale, and Wartburg, this decline in participation leaves their football teams severely short-handed, both in terms of roster depth and competitiveness.

The Coalfield Effect
Coalfield, despite having a small student population comparable to Wartburg, Sunbright and Oakdale, thrives in 1A football because it consistently attracts a bulk of the county's athletes. It’s almost as if Coalfield operates as an "athlete hub," drawing top players from across the county, while the other schools are left with minimal athletic resources and participation. This creates an imbalance, where one school in the county is loaded with talent while the others struggle to field full teams.

Enrollment Misconceptions
Wartburg's enrollment numbers can be misleading. It houses the county's special education department and alternative school programs, which inflate its numbers but don't contribute to athletic participation. When adjusted for actual athletic participation, Wartburg faces the same challenges as the other smaller schools. This structural issue amplifies the need for a consolidated county high school.

Consolidation Is the Solution
Morgan County needs to consider what other counties like Scott, Campbell, Clay, and Rhea have already done: consolidate into one central high school. A "Morgan County High School" would create a deeper athletic pool, ensuring all students—no matter where they live—have access to competitive sports and educational opportunities. It’s also worth noting that a high school football team should require a minimum of 28 players just to sustain a season. With the current setup, too many schools are dangerously close to not meeting that threshold.

Broader Benefits
Beyond athletics, consolidation would address other critical issues:

• Resource Efficiency: Instead of spreading limited funding across multiple outdated facilities, one school could allocate funds to state-of-the-art classrooms, athletic fields, and extracurricular programs.
• Academic Equity: A larger school could offer advanced placement courses, vocational training, and diverse extracurricular options, preparing students for college and careers in ways smaller schools simply can’t.
• Community Unity: One school could unite the entire county, building pride and giving all students equal access to opportunities. It’s time to stop dividing resources and start pooling them for the benefit of every student in Morgan County.

Addressing Concerns
Yes, busing and travel times are valid challenges, given the terrain of Morgan County. However, these are logistical issues that other counties have successfully solved through careful planning and investment. And while some worry about losing smaller-school identities, it’s important to prioritize the broader goal of giving all students a chance to thrive—academically, socially, and athletically.

The Bigger Picture
Small-school football works when there’s a large enough student body to support it. That’s no longer the case in Morgan County. Consolidation isn’t just about football; it’s about equity, efficiency, and giving every student the chance to succeed. Let’s learn from counties like Scott, Campbell, and Clay, who’ve embraced the benefits of centralization. It’s time for Morgan County to join them.

Wartburg is not a 1a school with a small student body.  Wartburg is the second largest 1a school in the east and has been 2a in the past.  Coalbucket isn't much bigger than Sunburnt or Oakdale. A complete consolidation would result in a 4a school.

			2 Oakdale High School 128 1A 3 Sunbright High School 141 1A 4 Greenfield High School 162 1A 5 Cloudland High School 162 1A 6 Coalfield High School 162 1A
			46 Wartburg Central High School 345 1A

Edited December 13, 2024 by rlh

[CYJACKETT]

3 hours ago, rlh said:

Wartburg is not a 1a school with a small student body.  Wartburg is the second largest 1a school in the east and has been 2a in the past.  Coalbucket isn't much bigger than Sunburnt or Oakdale. A complete consolidation would result in a 4a school.

			2 Oakdale High School 128 1A 3 Sunbright High School 141 1A 4 Greenfield High School 162 1A 5 Cloudland High School 162 1A 6 Coalfield High School 162 1A
			46 Wartburg Central High School 345 1A

Wartburg's enrollment numbers can be misleading. It houses the county's special education department and alternative school programs, which inflate its numbers but don't contribute to athletic participation. When adjusted for actual athletic participation, Wartburg faces the same challenges as the other smaller schools. This structural issue amplifies the need for a consolidated county high school.

[BFL347]

On 12/5/2024 at 11:58 PM, FootballismyVice said:

This may seem like a joke of a thread considering recent history however I am not even a Sunbright fan I talk mostly about region 1. This is a post asking all the people in region 2 for some details about these newcomers beyond their record. 

What do they do offensively and defensively?

Are things as bad as the numbers lead you to believe?

Is there a positive outlook for the future and even in the short term this next season?

Could having success and then sustaining it in region 1 help rebuild this program? 

Does this change take them away from any rivals? 

Does it afford the opportunity to establish new rivalry? 

Just like the Hampton thread I started however long ago this is another thread of genuine curiosity. Region 1 is gonna look radically different next season trying to learn something about the new kid on the block. 

 

Basically wildcat ,single wing

Yes

In a few years if they keep the youth club kids together and other school from taking them in county, there is a bright future

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

 

 

[vandyfan13]

Is the job open again? Listing says High School Football Coach on the district site, but also says Middle School coach in the description. Or is this a Pickett situation where they're the one in the same?

[WhistlinDixie]

Do you truly believe combining the schools would make them competitive? It’s the same bad small school athletes coming from the same terrible genetic line. 
 

Your going to still have the same “back in my day” coaches running your programs like they do now with out any experience outside their bad football circle. 
 

It would take a admin from outside the area, to hire outside the area, to bring people from outside the area to truly compete for a state title at that combined school. 
 

Outside the area is also not down the road in big city of Knoxville. 
 

I ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie 

[YAI2010]

From a York fans perspective I think consolidation sports wise for Morgan county would be great. I miss our York, Wartburg, Monterey, Oneida, Rockwood region.

Another thing I will add is if this did happen you could lose some players to neighboring counties more for an Oakdale standpoint though.

Also unless zoning is strictly enforced Wartburg is a shorter better drive than Coalfield from Oakdale and if that was the case and TSSAA could pardon with letting Sunbright and Oakdale play football could this change Wartburgs status from 1A to a 2-3A classification at that point? Likely not but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is success at that point that rules would change after complaints.