EPISD Board of Trustees hear presentation on C.C. Winn High School going 4A in 2014-2015
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Live from the EPISD Service Center Boardroom/Copyright 2013
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees heard a presentation by Athletic Director Edward Graf and C. C. Winn High School Head Football Coach Eric Villasenor regarding allowing C. C. Winn High School be classified as a 4A school commencing the 2014-2015 school year based on its student enrollment instead of upgrading it to the higher student enrollment 5A classification.
Athletic Director Edward Graf stated that C. C. Winn High School Mavericks new Head Football Coach Eric Villasenor conducted a study showing the feasibility of C. C. Winn competing in the lower student enrollment 4A classification commencing during the 2014-2016 University Interscholastic League’s bi-annual realignment period. Since its founding in 2007, C. C. Winn High School has been voluntarily competing in the higher student enrollment 5A classification out of convenience to keeping both Eagle Pass High School and C. C. Winn High School in the same district with the Laredo, Texas high schools.
The 2014-2016 U.I.L. bi-annual realignment will be announced on February 1, 2014 based on each high school’s October 25, 2013 student enrollment figure. Currently, C. C. Winn High School has 1,886 students as of May 14, 2013 and the projected student enrollment for October 25th is 1,951. The 5A classification requires a minimum of 2,150 students unless a school voluntarily decides to upgrade to a higher classification such as C. C. Winn High School has done during the past seven years.
In a handout prepared by C. C. Winn High School Head Football Coach Eric Villasenor, the advantages of allowing C. C. Winn High School compete in 4A are to compete on a level playing field with schools similar in student enrollment size, travel to and from similar 4A high schools would be the same and students would not lose instructional time from the classroom, the move to 4A would be cost effective, allow both EPISD high schools compete for district championships in two different districts, neither EPISD high school would eliminate each other from a district championship or playoff spot, and both EPISD high schools may continue to play against each other during non-district scheduling. The report recommends allowing C. C. Winn High School to compete in 4A during the 2014-2016 U.I.L. re-alignment period to be announced on February 1, 2014.
Athletic Director Edward Graf concurred with Coach Villasenor’s recommendation as well as Eagle Pass High School Head Football Coach Tom Gonzalez.
Board member Dr. Hector Alvarez stated he supported C. C. Winn’s participation in 4 A instead of 5A based on its smaller student enrollment figures and believes it would be positive for its students competing with similar size high schools. Other Board members seemed supportive of the recommendation that C. C. Winn High School be allowed to compete in 4A instead of much larger 5A high schools with bigger student enrollment figures.
The agenda item was for presentation and discussion purposes only and not for action at this time. Based on the support expressed by Board members and local coaches, it appears that C. C. Winn High School will be allowed to compete in 4A during the 2014-2016 U.I.L. bi-annual realignment period.
