By Moses Leos III
Concerns over missed instructional time for athletes and coaches due to travel, along with potential travel problems for parents, has Hays CISD appealing the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) district realignment assignments for Hays and Lehman athletics.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Michael McKie said Hays CISD would appeal the UIL’s realignment of the new District 25-6A.
The newly realigned 25-6A, which was completed Monday as part of the UIL’s biennial realignment process, features Hays, Lehman, Westlake, Vandegrift, Lake Travis, Vista Ridge and Leander. The new district will go into effect from 2016-2018 for football and basketball.
Hays CISD is requesting to release Hays and Lehman into the new District 14-6A, which features schools “more closely located to our school district,” McKie said in the letter. The new 14-6A will house Anderson, Bowie, Akins, Del Valle, Manor and San Marcos starting fall 2016.
“We appreciate the challenge it is for the U.I.L. to coordinate a realignment across the state every two years,” McKie said in the letter. “However, we are respectfully appealing the announced district assignment.”
According to the letter, travel to competition in District 25-6A would “significantly interfere with instructional time for students and coaches.”
McKie also wrote the new alignment could place a burden on parents and fans who travel to games.
“Reduced fan participation could also negatively impact ticket sales and other revenue necessary to support the U.I.L. programs,” McKie said in the letter.
According to Public Information Officer Tim Savoy, the district is taking advantage of the UIL’s process they have for appeals.
“They (the UIL) have the process available and we’re availing ourselves of the process,” Savoy said. “Right now, we’re allowing the process to work out.”
The process would involve Hays CISD obtaining a unanimous vote by all 11 schools in both districts to allow the change.
Savoy said emails were sent to all affected superintendents.
If there is a unanimous vote to make a change, the appeal is “more or less a matter of sending paperwork to the UIL.”
Otherwise, Savoy said the district would have to appear in person before the UIL Appeals Committee.
Hays CISD expects to hear from the UIL regarding the appeal by Feb. 18.
Letter from Superintendent Michael McKie on realignment appeal
Dear Hays CISD Parents, Teachers, Students, and Staff,
The tentative 2016 – 2018 University Interscholastic League (U.I.L.) realignment was recently announced, placing Hays and Lehman high schools in a competition district primarily composed of schools in the northern and western Austin metro area. We appreciate the challenge it is for U.I.L. to coordinate a realignment across the state every two years. However, we are respectfully appealing the announced district assignments.
Hays CISD is seeking to be released from U.I.L. District 25-6A and accepted into District 14-6A, which is composed of high schools more closely located to our school district. Travel to competition in District 25-6A, versus District 14-6A, for both Hays CISD high schools would significantly interfere with instructional time for students and coaches. It would also place an added burden on parents and fans who wish to travel to support our students. Reduced fan participation could also negatively impact ticket sales and other revenue necessary to support the U.I.L. programs.
We expect to hear from U.I.L. regarding our appeal by February 18th, or soon thereafter and I will keep you informed about the decision. As always, thank you for your continued support of our students and district.
Go Lobos and Rebels!
Michael McKie
Superintendent of Schools
