Bryant is suing the Arkansas Activities Association over its conference assignment for the 2014-2016 cycle, school district Superintendent Randy Rutherford said.
The expected move comes roughly a month after the AAA’s 20-member board of directors voted unanimously to deny Bryant’s appeal to remain in the 7A/6A-South in the next cycle.
The AAA, which administers rules and regulations agreed upon by member schools, has assigned Bryant to 7A/6A-Central in 2014-2016.
Immediately after the board’s vote, Rutherford said Bryant, citing dramatically increased travel, would likely challenge the AAA in court. Rutherford said Bryant’s school board voted Monday to file a lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
“There’s just no clear path as to what was even used to decide,” Rutherford said.
AAA Executive Director Lance Taylor said Thursday afternoon that he couldn’t comment on the matter because he hadn’t been served.
Rutherford said Bryant’s legal challenge centers on Section 6, Rule 1 of the AAA handbook that states in part, “The largest 32 schools shall be assigned geographically to four conferences for regular season play in applicable sports.”
Rutherford spent 50 minutes before the board last month and said Bryant’s one-way travel for conference games would increase from 392.9 total miles to 855.6 total miles in the next cycle because of, in large part, trips to Siloam Springs (229 miles), Alma (156) and Greenwood (156).
Rutherford said Bryant would drive past Little Rock Hall and Little Rock Parkview, both assigned to the 7A/6A-South in the next cycle, on trips to Siloam Springs, Alma and Greenwood.
Sports, Pages 24 on 10/25/2013