KISD’s UIL status could change to 3A

With school districts turning in their attendance numbers to the University Interscholastic League yesterday, Kilgore Independent School District may be a 3A school next year.

Jody Clements, superintendent, speculated that both KISD and Henderson ISD could be competing at the 3A level for the 2010/2011 football season. “The bubble number is looking to be 1000,” said Clements. “Last year’s number was 985 and Kilgore’s attendance was 994.”

When UIL looks at the numbers they try and equalize the number of 3A, 4A and 5A teams throughout the different regions, said Clements. “Longview would probably stay 4A and John Tyler would go down to 4A if this scenario plays out,” said Clements.

Clements said this would mean for KISD a different alignment for the teams KISD would compete against, even in academic UIL competitions. “KISD could be playing teams like Carthage and Gilmer,” said Clements.

Jason Maroney, tennis coach, said if Kilgore drops down to 3A it will hurt the tennis program because there is no spring tennis season at that level.

Clements said there is still a lot of things that can be looked at, even if KISD does go 3A, but for right now the official word will not come down from UIL until February. “Soccer could also be affected, because lots of 3A schools don’t play soccer,” said Clements.

This only will affect UIL competitions. The enrollment classification does not affect any other aspect of the school district, said Clements.