UIL admits Mistake with Fort Worth ISD

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UIL admits mistake with Fort Worth ISD

Fort Worth district changing

By MERCEDES MAYERStar-Telegram Staff Writer

When the UIL deems something true, it must be. At least that's what the Fort Worth school district thought Thursday morning when the UIL announced that the city's 11 Class 4A high schools would make up one competition district.

But after some research, the UIL and Fort Worth school district realized that the 11-team district violated UIL rules. According to the UIL's realignment policy, a school district with 11 or more schools of similar size should have its schools "assigned to two or more UIL districts."

"It's one of those things that if the UIL does it, you're sort of taking for granted that it's allowable," Fort Worth athletic director Herb Stephens said. "Then you get back and look at it and you go, 'Wait a minute.'"

UIL athletic director Charles Breithaupt did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Stephens said the school district will offer remedies to the the UIL to resolve the issue. Stephens and the school district have been working on various scenarios to correct the problem. Stephens said he expects the school district to give the UIL its input Monday. The UIL's decision could come down that day.

The Fort Worth school district is taking into consideration everything from enrollment to geography to the strength of the athletic program to recommend which school or schools move to a different district.

Stephens said most likely one or three schools would move to a different district or districts.

Moving one school would leave 10 teams in 7-4A, which would be split into two zones.

District 6-4A would be the logical choice for taking in a school because it only has seven teams -- Azle, Birdville, Boswell, Brewer, Fossil Ridge, Saginaw and Springtown -- all close geographically. District 5-4A also has seven teams, but it includes teams from Wichita Falls to Denison and would require more travel.

Fort Worth's neighbors

The Fort Worth school district will probably move one or three teams from its 11-team District 7-4A to one or more of the following districts:

District 5-4A (7 teams)

Denison, Denton, Denton Guyer, Denton Ryan, Sherman, Wichita Falls, Wichita Falls Rider

District 6-4A (7)

Azle, Birdville, Boswell, Brewer, Fossil Ridge, Saginaw, Springtown

District 8-4A (8)

Aledo, Alvarado, Cleburne, Crowley, Everman, Joshua, Mineral Wells, Stephenville