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Valley City, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – There could be changes coming to the high school basketball league. The preliminary three-class basketball proposal has been drafted by a focus group representing  member schools and regions in North Dakota. 

The draft proposal would move several smaller schools from the current Class A, and form a new Class A with several bigger Class B schools.  The remaining schools would stay in Class B or become the new highest class, Class AA.

Mitch Carlson, superintendent with LaMoure and supporter of the plan, says it all started when Josh Johnson, superintendent of Valley City Public Schools, originally made a survey asking member schools back in February.

The question on the survey was; would your school be willing to consider a three class plan?

With 94% responding to the poll 85% of schools said yes. 

Superintendent Johnson says the proposal is to help with parity in the sport. 

Both Superintendents say they wanted to make the proposal as fair as possible in terms of school sizes going into the three classes.

However, Superintendent Carlson says there could be some pushback.

Superintendent Johnsons says that he and the focus group put together believe this plan is in the best interest of the kids.

The proposal now goes to the member schools where they will provide feedback. A final draft will be made and disseminated on October 1st and a letter of support will be asked for. If 60% or more of member schools provide a letter of support the plan will be proposed to the North Dakota State Highschool Athletic Association for final approval and implementation.

If you would like to read the proposal yourself head to https://sites.google.com/view/threeclassproposal/home.