Uil Realignment Announcement Set For 2 Feb 04

[JLGORMAN]

At 9AM CST on 2 Feb, the UIL will annnounce the bi-ennial realignment of schools in Texas. At this announcement all schools will be notified where they will compete for the next two academic years starting with 2004-2005, and who they will compete against. With over 1100 High Schools affected by this realignment, many 5A Bands will be looking to see where they are placed. Prior to the 2002 realignment, Bands from the Austin Area (Westlake, Bowie, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Connally and others) were in area D which encompassed schools from the Austin and San Antonio areas. For 2002 to 2004 areas. the Austin Schools were thrown into the Same area as the Powerhouse schools from the Houston Subburbs of Spring, The Woodlands, Stephen F. Austin of Sugarland, Katy and Pearland. While San Antonio has some fine Bands, Reagen and Churchill to name two, the competiton was much easier for the Austin Bands in qualifying for the State Championships with schools from San Antonio in comparison to the powerhouse Schools of the Houston Suburbs. Another area that will be watched is iRegion 5, home of LD Bell, Fossil Ridge, and Haltom, and will be placed again in the same area as the Region 20 Bands with Powerhouse Duncanville. For many Band Directors, this realignment will determine where they will choose to compete in the fall events leading to the State 5A Championships. The Earthquake many will hear on 2 Feb will be the groans of Band Directors across the State as they prepare for the upcoming State Championship Runs