San Juan, Monticello to drop a classification under realignment

San Juan County schools are probably on the move again according to the recently-released Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) first consideration of classifications.

Not only will San Juan and Monticello high schools most likely both drop down a classification beginning in fall 2021, the 1A football classification that was eliminated by the UHSAA just two years ago will be reinstated.

While Whitehorse and Monument Valley high schools would remain firmly secure in the 1A classification under the proposed realignment, San Juan and Monticello high schools are perched precariously on the edge of a “bubble” in school enrollment numbers which has caused them to jump classifications at fairly regular intervals in recent seasons.

San Juan would drop from 3A to 2A in all activities if the UHSAA first classification is approved while Monticello would drop from 2A to 1A.

A 1A classification for football would be recreated and would include North Summit, Enterprise, Gunnison Valley, Kanab, North Sevier, Layton Christian, Parowan, Duchesne, Monticello, Whitehorse, Altamont, Milford, Monument Valley, and Rich.

The UHSAA Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday, December 9 to determine the final consideration for classifications and place schools into a first consideration for regions.

A public hearing is scheduled December 16 to allow districts, schools, and communities to provide feedback on the placement of schools into new regions.

The UHSAA is already taking public comment online. Interested parties can provide feedback at uhsaa.org/machform/view.php?id=14359.

The UHSAA Board of Trustees will finalize the assignment of schools into regions on December 17 with the first contests under the new alignment taking place in the fall of 2021.

Regardless of what the UHSAA decides, the sports and activities landscape for San Juan County schools will be significantly altered once again. The San Juan Record will publish new classifications and regions when they’re released.