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Wednesday, July 2, 2008
How can Georgia high school sports teams combat high gas prices?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Extra Point blogger Todd Holcomb talked to GHSA and Georgia school officials about the problem of continually rising gas prices and its impact on the state’s high school sports programs. Georgia High School Association Executive Director Ralph Swearngin says future region reclassification aimed at lessening away game trips isn’t off the table. Tennessee has adopted a plan for football that groups bigger schools with smaller schools. Arkansas is considering combining its highest two classifications for similar reasons.
“Do we have to do something drastic? If we don’t, I’m not sure we’ll be out there traveling,” Earl Etheridge, chairman of the GHSA’s reclassification and football committees, says. Holcomb notes: “The average price of diesel fuel, which powers school buses that get only 6-10 miles per gallon, is now around $4.65 — 34 percent higher than the $3.48 average for the ‘07-08 school year. It was only $2.85 when school started last August, according to the Energy Information Administration.”
Kick off the debate: If you could devise a plan for the GHSA aimed at helping schools save on gas costs, what would it be? Are you opposed to Georgia adopting a Tennessee-like plan that pits large schools against smaller schools close by? Should Classes AAAAA and AAAA be combined, as Arkansas is considering? And what about title games? Should any championships still be played in a single arena (i.e., the Georgia Dome, Gwinnett Arena or Macon Centreplex)?
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