SAISD Appeals UIL Realignment, Gets Denied

Recently, the UIL announced its biennial realignment, and schools across West Texas either faced major changes, or minor. The San Angelo Independent School District learned Central High School’s sports faced major changes, and earlier today, an SAISD administrative team spoke before the UIL District Assignment Appeals Committee at UIL headquarters in Austin. The team appealed for Central’s placement in District 8-6A for sports other than football. Football was the only sport included in the desired District 2-6A, said Jamie Highsmith, public information officer for SAISD.

Highsmith added that Lake View High School fell into anticipated UIL districts and did not need an appeal.

Either way, SAISD officials learned around midday that the appeal for CHS was denied.

“While we respect the process and the challenging position UIL is in to align 1,020+ school districts in Texas, we disagree with the final decision,” said Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff. “We believe this decision is not in the best interest of our Central High School students and families. We will continue to support San Angelo students, knowing that traveling to and from the Waco/Killeen area is not in the best interest of over 21,000 students enrolled in District 8, many of whom participate in extra-curricular activities. Due to safety, road conditions, and a loss of instructional time, we are disappointed in the outcome; however, SAISD will overcome this setback and continue our tradition of academic and athletic excellence at Central High School.”