New ‘Class 5A’ division proposed

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 10, 2001 | 11:04 a.m.

In an effort to meet growing budget reduction demands, Clark County athletic director Larry McKay has proposed a plan that would drastically alter the way Nevada determines its high school state champions.

The proposal, which would virtually eliminate spending on travel to and from state tournament events, would move Southern Nevada's current Class 4A schools into a new Class 5A classification.

Northern Nevada's large schools would remain in Class 4A, meaning the state's two halves would no longer participate in state championship events together.

"Obviously, there will be some concerns about it, but when you're in a money crunch, decisions have to be made," McKay said.

"If the money was plentiful we wouldn't even consider it, but I've been directed to make some recommendations and that's one of the recommendations I've made."

As a result of the state's projected $121.5 million revenue shortfall, Clark County Schools will likely be required to slash $12-15 million from next year's budget.

McKay declined to specify how much he has been asked to cut from athletics. A Reno Gazette-Journal report put the figure around $1 million, attributing that number to Hug High School athletic director Pat Cunning.

"I can't give a figure because a figure hasn't been arrived at yet," McKay said. "I can say it will be a significant number."

By competing among themselves in local state championship events, Southern Nevada's schools would save money on air and bus fare as well as hotel costs.

Jerry Hughes, executive director of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, said McKay's proposal has been added to the agenda for the NIAA's Board of Control meetings June 19-20.

"I have mixed emotions," Hughes said. "The north-south rivalries in Nevada have been a good thing. But it's like everything else -- sometimes change has to occur. It's not something that would be done without some serious restrictions on the budget."

McKay's plan could serve as an alternative to a proposed "pay-to-play" scenario that would have students paying for athletics and other extra-curricular activities beginning next year.

"When you go to a pay-to-play situation, you will eventually start eliminating some programs at schools where kids won't have an opportunity to play," McKay said. "I'm hoping doing something as radical as this may prevent that from happening.

"My intention and my philosophy is to try to maintain the integrity of the everyday programs and still have a finalization of the season with a state championship," McKay said. "By doing this, we'd still be able to keep those two aspects in place, and not spend so much on travel."

Even if McKay's proposal passes next month, additional cuts likely would be needed to further whittle the athletic budget. The elimination of middle school boys and girls basketball -- Clark County's only middle school programs -- as well as a reduction in freshman programs have been mentioned as possibilities.