Hudson County public schools tossed about in new alignment
If you were just getting accustomed to the system that the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) uses to classify high school programs for state playoff competition, it’s time to get out the copy of the Rand McNally atlas and that trusty compass, because the NJSIAA has turned the state’s public school athletic programs upside down.
The state’s athletic directors and administrators overwhelmingly approved a proposal that totally changes the face and the geographic alignment that has been in place for more than 25 years.
By a vote of more than two-to-one (184 in favor, 72 opposed with two abstentions), the state’s high school administrators approved a proposal that calls for a drastic reshaping of the current sectional borders, created to establish a numerical balance for the baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, outdoor track, soccer, softball, tennis and wrestling state tournaments.
Right now, as it stands, there is a disproportionate number of schools in each of the state’s four sectionals: North Jersey, Section 1 (where all of Hudson County’s schools have resided since the establishment of the enrollment classifications); North Jersey, Section 2; Central Jersey and South Jersey.
The realignment and redistricting was devised in order to provide an equal number of schools in each sectional.
While the realignment totally changes the face of public school state sectionals, the changes will not affect the state’s 79 Parochial schools.
According to the new plans, there will be a total of 82 public schools in each of Groups II, III and IV, with 87 schools residing in Group I.
Based on the latest enrollment figures released by the state, schools with 460 students or fewer will fall into Group I, followed by Group II (461 to 706 students), Group III (707 to 1,005 students) and Group IV (more than 1,005 students).
Currently, there are 74 public schools in North Jersey, Section 2, and 92 in South Jersey. The new sectional boundaries will correct such imbalances.
"According to the constitution and bylaws, we are required to classify schools based on equal numbers and geography, which is what the schools voted on," NJSIAA Assistant Director Steve Timko said. "There is no doubt in my mind that this is logical and extremely sound legislation and a far more legitimate approach."
However, try selling that approach to Hudson County athletic directors, who are totally up in arms about the changes. The changes will now separate Hudson County schools when it comes to playing in the state tournament.
For example, in Group IV, North Bergen and Memorial remain in North Jersey Section 1, while fellow local Group IV schools Emerson, Dickinson and Ferris get shifted to Section 2, along with fellow Hudson County schools out of the coverage area of The Hudson Reporter Newspapers, namely Kearny and Bayonne.
"I guess the new borderline drawn is 49th Street, because we’re in one section and our neighbors Memorial is in the other section," Emerson athletic director Len Introna said. "We will never see our friends Memorial or North Bergen in the state playoffs ever again. I’m trying to look at everything with open eyes. The best thing I can say is that I’m apprehensive. I understand that we’re trying to get a level playing field for all sports, but now, in the state tournament, we have to play Elizabeth and Linden. I don’t know the brain power behind that one."
Memorial athletic director Sal Vega agrees.
"The only thing that would have helped us was to keep it the way it was," Vega said. "Is it better for us? No. But anytime there’s change, there’s bound to be problems. Change is going to make things more difficult. But the NJSIAA’s guidelines clearly state that the changes had to be made, so we have to live with it. I think if you ask other athletic directors, they’ll tell you the same thing."
Added Vega, "I’m disappointed, because the quality of the schools in our section has just gone up dramatically. We have to adhere to the voice of the entire membership, which voted it in, but we don’t have to like it."
Introna said that he also voted the proposal down.
"I don’t know whether they looked at how it affects the schools closest to the boundary line, like us," Introna said. "Of course, I voted no, but it passed by a wide margin. We’ll see what happens. It’s going to take some time to get adjusted to."
At the realignment meeting last Monday at the Pines Manor in Edison, several representatives of North Jersey, Section 1, Group I schools objected to the realignment, noting that it will add five teams to their group and bring the total to 20 to compete for eight berths in the football playoffs and for four berths in wrestling.
In comparison, in North Jersey, Section 2, Group I, just 14 teams would be competing for the same number of football and wrestling sectional berths.
The realignment also affects Union Hill, which is currently a Group IV school. Union Hill will be changed to North Jersey Section 2, Group III, where it will be joined by fellow HCIAA members Lincoln and Snyder.
Hoboken moves to Section 2, Group II, while Secaucus, Weehawken, High Tech, Hudson County Prep and McNair Academic get shifted to Section 2, Group I.
The boundaries for the sectionals will be redrawn every year based on the previous October’s school total enrollment figures, which means that it is actually possible that schools could change enrollment groups and geographic sectionals on an annual basis.
The NJSIAA didn’t stop there. According to NJSIAA associate director Jim Loper, a special classification for football is being talked about – once again – and the football groupings could actually be implemented by next fall.
"There is nothing procedurally to stop a football or wrestling sport-specific classification," Loper said. "Any proposal would have to go through the football committee in January or the wrestling committee in March, then the policy committee in May and the executive committee in June."
The NJSIAA has examined several different proposals in the past to possibly play down to one true football champion in each Parochial and public school group, instead of the 20 state sectional champions that are currently crowned each year.
While many administrators around the state applaud the move, it’s not going over well in Hudson County.
"I didn’t think there were many problems with the way we had it," Vega said. "I spoke with a lot of athletic directors and they said they were fine with the way it was. I’m aware that it will make it more difficult for us to compete."
And will eliminate any possible Hudson County showdowns for state sectional titles in the future, which is a shame in itself.