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Realignment with NCHSAA schools happens every four years, and the next shake-up comes for the 2021-22 school year.

The NCHSAA decided to split the state into East and West regions. Schools will be divided into four classifications of equal size instead of the percentage split used now. The schools will be classified not only by enrollment but by a score that is a combination of enrollment, a three-year average of Commissioners’ Cup standings and a three-year average of the number of students who receive free or reduced-cost lunches.

The Central Piedmont Conference will retain the six members plus the addition of Mt. Tabor, which will return to the CPC after spending the four years in the Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference.

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Below are some highlights of decisions made by the board at the NCHSAA Winter 2020 meeting. .

• Approved the allocation of $4,000,000 in Board/Undesignated Funds from the NCHSAA Endowment as a one-time subsidy for schools offering athletic programs during the 2020-2021 academic year;

• No alterations to the 2020-2021 Modified Athletic Calendar.

• Updated the 2020-2021 Modified Sports Manual for basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer and swimming and diving.

• Approved the creation of a 60-second officials’ timeout in each quarter for basketball to provide an opportunity for athletes to adapt to wearing masks during competition.

• Approved virtual monitoring (tele-medicine) as an alternative to face-to-face monitoring of the concussion protocol.

• Eliminated subdivisions in football.

• Reduced the number of regular season contests in football, to 10 games (including endowment) while implementing a stipulation that the first contest may not occur more than two days in advance of the final Friday in August.

NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker offered a statement following the Board of Directors spring meeting.

“The NCHSAA has never asked more of a board at any time. They have risen to the challenge and guided the association and its schools with a steady and calm hand.

“We are grateful to be able to offer competitive opportunities for student-athletes across the state. Not only will the NCHSAA weather the storm, we will be able to provide financial assistance to member schools’ athletic programs during these times.”