The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its second draft for the 2017-21 realignment on Friday, and there was only one slight improvement for Bladen teams.
The original realignment draft from December placed East Bladen and West Bladen in a nine-team Class 2A conference with current Four County members Clinton, Wallace-Rose Hill and Midway and newcomers James Kenan, East Duplin, Spring Creek and Goldsboro.
The second draft that was released today moves Goldsboro into a Class 2A league with Wilson Beddingfield, Farmville Central, Southwest Edgecombe, North Pitt, North Johnston and Nash Central.
Goldsboro is 79 miles from West Bladen and 76 miles from East Bladen. With Goldsboro removed the average travel distance to the other 6 schools in the proposed conference is 60 miles for West Bladen and 55 miles for East Bladen.
While the Bladen County schools are continuing to hit the road for long road trips, the Robeson and Columbus high schools will continue together in their own Class 1A/2A league that they have been in for the last 4 years with no changes.
There will be realignment meetings held from Feb. 8-12 for schools to address the second draft. The deadline for schools to respond in writing with concerns or suggestions for the second draft is March 1.
The third and probably final draft will be released on March 16. The NCHSAA Board of Directors will meet May 3-4 and may consider appeals to the final draft. The new alignment will begin on Aug. 1, 2017.
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