The votes are in and the 4A Classification in Kansas will now be split into two separate divisions.  The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) announced that based on 42 “yes” votes and 22 “no” votes by current 4A high schools, the 64 teams will be divided equally in half based on student enrollment.  The split will start this upcoming year (2013-14) in volleyball, girls and boys basketball, baseball and softball; while the football split won’t occur until the 2014-15 season, creating an eighth state championship.

At a meeting on April 26th, the KSHSAA board of directors had voted 35-27 to allow all Class 4A schools to vote on the classification.  The proposal was submitted by Big 7 League President and Holton High Principal, Rod Wittmer and after passing was sent to member 4A schools for the majority vote. 

Why is this happening? 
Class 4A currently sports 64 schools, with the enrollment range stretching from 258 students to 729, which is the largest enrollment gap outside of 1A in the state.  The split will be similar to the way Class 1A is divided into Divisions I and II for basketball and volleyball.
Eighty percent of the state championships during the previous five school years in football, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball and softball were won by the larger 32 schools in 4A.

This is the second such attempt in a year.  Last summer, a proposal would have dropped the smallest schools in each of 4A, 3A, 2-1A to the next classification below, with 2-1A’s smallest falling to the eight-man ranks. But, it failed to pass any class but 4A.

How it affects Northeast Kansas?
According to enrollment numbers for 2012-13, Wamego would become 4A Division I’s smallest school with 451 students, and Andale would become 4A Division II’s largest school with 434. 

Locally, Atchison with 460 students would be in the large division; while other local schools: Santa Fe Trail (362), Perry Lecompton (328), Holton (320), Jeff West (305), and Royal Valley (290) would all compete in the smaller division. 
Hayden had 488 students this year, which would place them in the larger division, and for now, end the district or playoff rivalry between Holton and Hayden in football after the upcoming 2013 season. 

There are concerns, though.  Gary Musselman, KSHSAA executive director, noted the need for more state sites for the five sports, the cost of more sites and finding more officials in an already too-small pool are the next issues to be addressed.