Fast forward today, that same possibility is back on the table.
District 9 representative Bob Tonkin has proposed adding two classes beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. The 2015 season will not be affected.
Enrollment numbers for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years in football (numbers courtesy of the PIAA website)
1-174 -- A
175-299 -- AA
300-492 -- AAA
493-Above -- AAAA
What the numbers would be under Tonkin's proposal
1-147 -- A
148-209 -- AA
210-300 -- AAA
301-409 -- AAAA
410-608 -- AAAAA
609-Above -- AAAAAA
How Districts 5 and 6 would be classified under the proposed system (With no voluntary upgrade based on current enrollment). Teams who would move are indicated in BOLD
District 5
A (8) -- Berlin Brothersvalley (126), Conemaugh Township (116), Meyersdale (118), North Star (142), Northern Bedford (144), Shade (73), Tussey Mountain (143), Windber (104).
AA (1) -- Everett (174)
AAA (2) -- Bedford (255), Chestnut Ridge (227)
AAAA (1) -- Somerset (319)
No members of District 5 would be considered AAAAA or AAAAAA. Everett, Bedford, Chestnut Ridge, and Somerset will likely be looking at being part of sub-regionals for the state playoffs.
District 6
A (19) -- Bishop Carroll (82), Bishop Guilfoyle (118), Blacklick Valley (82), Blairsville (126), Claysburg-Kimmel (106), Conemaugh Valley (104), Ferndale (76), Glendale (98), Homer-Center (107), Juniata Valley (95), Moshannon Valley (105), Northern Cambria (139), Penns Manor (111), Portage (83), Purchase Line (125), Saltsburg (98), St. Joseph's Academy (46), United (136), Williamsburg (62).
AA (12) -- Bellwood-Antis (154), Bishop McCort (148), Cambria Heights (169), Marion Center (170), West Branch (162), Westmont Hilltop (173), Bald Eagle Area (206), Mount Union (183), Penn Cambria (206), Penns Valley (207), Richland (202), Southern Huntingdon (169).
AAA (8) -- Central Cambria (224), Central (232), Forest Hills (240), Huntingdon (258), Juniata (230), Ligonier Valley (218), Philipsburg-Osceola (230), Tyrone (229).
AAAA (3) -- Hollidaysburg (402)*, Johnstown (324), Bellefonte (341).
AAAAA (1) -- Central Mountain (505)
AAAAAA (3) -- Altoona (933)*, State College (886), Mifflin County (617)
*--Hollidaysburg and Altoona, while members of PIAA District 6, their football teams are conditional members of the WPIAL, and compete in their playoffs.
Under this proposal, the PIAA hopes to cut a week off the schedule. Under its current format, the football season runs 16 total weeks, which leaves it at risk of ending the year one week before Christmas.
This will be a topic of discussion at the PIAA Board of Directors meeting on May 20.
