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Small public schools bid farewell to FHSAA

BRISTOL -- At least 21 small north Florida public high schools are pulling out of football playoffs conducted by the Florida High School Activities Association to form an independent league in 2003.

Complaints have been simmering for years that private schools have an unfair advantage because they can enroll from an unlimited area, while public schools can take only those students who live in their districts.

"It's getting very, very frustrating when you consistently work to win and not get rewarded for it," Jay principal Thomas Rowland told The News Herald of Panama City. He is vice president of the still unnamed association.

The FHSAA did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.

The league members will compete for one more season at the Class A level before leaving.

A private Tallahassee school, North Florida Christian, has won the past three Class A state titles after dropping from 2A, where it was champion in 1996 and 1998. Of 68 Class A football schools last year, 40 were private.

Safety also is a factor because some private schools recruit major-college prospects who are bigger and stronger than most small-school players, said Liberty County school superintendent Tony Anderson, the league's president.

Liberty County hosted a Monday meeting of the independent league members. They agreed to play in four districts then hold a playoff among the district champions to decide the league title.

Two more schools might join. Baker was represented at the meeting but has not yet made a decision, and Vernon was invited but didn't attend, Anderson said.

The schools decided to bolt from the FHSAA after it rejected a proposed rule change that would have multiplied the number of private school students by 1.5 for classification purposes, forcing some private schools into higher classifications.

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