Is realignment going for a ride?

A proposal to realign Utah high school regions could mean a lot more time on the bus for Wasatch Front student athletes.

The proposal, presented Thursday at a UHSAA board of trustees meeting, met with a lukewarm reception. One reason is the proposal has schools like Snow Canyon and Pine View playing Orem and Provo in 4A. And while their population projections might warrant the southern schools' move to 4A, the four-and-a-half-hour bus ride is something principals said they would resist. It is something those who drew up the proposal expect.

"The Board look at this strictly by the numbers," said Evan Excell, executive director of UHSAA. "It's a tough, tough situation, and we walk a fine line (between school population and travel issues)."

Realignments are to go into effect in the fall of 2005, but the newly designed regions will be voted on and finalized in June of this year.

This proposal could see some revamping — March 15 public hearings will allow comment on the current proposal. Another board of trustees meeting follows two weeks later on April 1, with several more public hearings likely before the June vote.

Thursday's proposal is as follows:

5A CLASSIFICATION (28 schools made up of populations of 1,450 and up): Region 1: Clearfield, Davis, Fremont, Layton, Northridge, Viewmont and Weber; Region 2: Brighton, Copper Hills, Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Olympus, Skyline, West Jordan; Region 3: Alta, Bingham, Hunter, Jordan, Kearns, Riverton, Taylorsville; Region 4: American Fork, Lehi, Lone Peak, Mountain View, Pleasant Grove, Spanish Fork, Timpanogos.

4A CLASSIFICATION (25 schools made up of population of 1,000 to 1,450): Region 5: Ben Lomond, Box Elder, Logan, Mountain Crest, Ogden, Sky View; Region 6: Bonneville, Bountiful, Roy, Tooele, West, Woods Cross; Region 7:

Cyprus, East, Granger, Highland, Murray, Uintah; Region 8: Orem, Payson, Pine View, Provo, Snow Canyon, Springville, Timpview.

3A CLASSIFICATION (18 schools with populations of 450 to 1,000): Region 9: Bear River, Granite, Grantsville, Juan Diego, Judge Memorial, Morgan; Region 10: Carbon, Emery, North Sanpete, Park City, Union, Wasatch; Region 11: Canyon View, Cedar City, Delta, Dixie, Hurricane, Tuacahn.

2A CLASSIFICATION (19 schools with populations of 150 to 450): Region 12: Gunnison, Manti, Monticello, North Sevier, Richfield, San Juan, South Sevier; Region 13: Beaver, Cross Creek, Enterprise, Kanab, Millard, Parowan; Region 14: Grand, Juab, North Summit, Rowland Hall, South Summit, Waterford.

1A CLASSIFICATION (34 schools with populations of under 150): Region 15: Bryce Valley, Escalante, Milford, Panguitch, Piute, Valley, Wayne; Region 16 North: Altamont, Duchesne, Manila, Rich, Tabiona, Uintah River; Region 16 South: Green River, Monument Valley, Navajo Mountain, Whitehorse; Region 17: Christian Heritage, Deseret Academy ISC, Layton Christian, Mount Vernon, Oakley, S.L. Lutheran, St. Joseph, West Ridge Academy; Region 18: Dugway, East Carbon, EskDale, Meridian, Tintic, Wasatch Academy, Wendover, West Desert.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com