A move that's been anticipated for a number of years appears to be in the offing in just 12 months from now. In a look at preliminary reclassification numbers for the 2022-23 to 2023-24 cycle, the Jonesboro School District Athletic Department will most likely move into the state's high .
The Arkansas State Championships Are Live At 5:30 CST
May 4, 2021
The Arkansas Activities Association is holding its state track and field championships from May 4-6 across various event sites in Arkansas and will be streamed live through MileSplit.
Check out below for links to each meet.
LIVE STREAM MEET SCHEDULE
Harding University President David Burks met with Harding Academy teachers and staff Friday to announce the hire of James Gurchiek as superintendent and Bradley Francis as high school principal.
“The search committee and I have been very serious in our efforts to select the best people to lead Harding Academy,” said President Burks. “We prayed that God would answer our prayers, and I believe he has done just that. I have no doubt that we have found two people who will bring a Christ-centered approach and attitude to everything that they do.”
James Gurchiek has more than 25 years experience working with Searcy Public Schools. Prior to accepting the role of superintendent, he served as the principal for McRae Elementary. Gurchiek serves on the Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, and as a Cognia State Council Member.
For years, one of the biggest controversies in Arkansas high school athletics is the issue of private schools and the advantages some may have when it comes to competition. The Arkansas Activities Association has released a plan for its governing body (representatives of member schools) to vote on titled the “Competitive Equity Factor.”
If approved, the plan would create a system for private schools to move up or down a classification depending on their performance over the span of the previous four seasons. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the formula awards points to a team based on its results in a given year. A winning conference record would earn the team one point, a state playoff win is worth two points, a finals appearance would be three points, and a championship is worth four.
It seems the debate between public and private high school athletic programs (and competitive balance issues) is never ending in the state of Arkansas. Plus, politicians seem to want to get into the discussion, and that's happened thanks to a bill filed in the State House of Representatives .