JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Last month, the North Dakota High School Activities Association approved for consideration a football plan for the 2019-2020 seasons that would move Jamestown back to AAA after a two-year stint in AA.

Shanley’s decision to opt-up to AAA has created an odd number of teams in in the division and means Jamestown would have to follow to even the number at 16.

Superintendent Rob Lech referred those attending last night’s school board meeting to his report.

“It was with great disappointment that we were informed of the NDHSAA’s decision to move Jamestown back into AAA football,” Lech said in the report. “Mr. [Jim] Roaldson and I worked together to draft a formal letter to the football committee and the NDHSAA leadership outlining our position that Jamestown is best suited for the AA division and formally requesting reconsideration. Our primary issues were competitive balance and enrollment comparison concerns between AAA and AA.”

The NDHSAA uses adjusted (projected) enrollment numbers of boys that will be in 9-12 grades when the football plan is in place as the barometer to place teams in their respective levels. Jamestown is 15th in enrollment in the state which would put them into the 16-team AAA.

There is not a school within 100 boys of Jamestown on either side (Fargo North above and Devils Lake below) so this does put JHS in an interesting situation. Devils Lake would remain in AA with Shanley’s decision to opt-up to take the 16th spot.

You can view the enrollment information here.

The official vote on the new plan is scheduled for the fall.