Walla Walla withdraws from Big Nine

Walla Walla Public Schools joins Tri-Cities schools in split from Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference

(Friday, Jan. 27, 2012) WALLA WALLA - Today superintendents from Walla Walla Public Schools, Kennewick School District, Pasco School District and Richland School District announced their districts will be withdrawing from the Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference (CBBN) effective June 30, 2012 and forming a new athletic league. The new league, featuring Walla Walla, Kennewick, Pasco and Richland school districts, has yet to be named.

The new league will serve eight schools with an equal number of 3A and 4A teams. No changes will take effect for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year. Wenatchee, Yakima, Moses Lake and Sunnyside School Districts will continue on as the Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference.

Superintendent Mick Miller and Tri Cities Superintendents Dave Bond (Kennewick), Saundra Hill (Pasco), Jim Busey (Richland) said economic factors and a desire to lessen the loss of instruction time were the primary drivers in the decision to vacate the conference and form a new athletic league.

"Following almost three weeks of work trying to iron out differences between schools in the Columbia Basin Big Nine, common ground and agreement could not be made, Miller said. While we hate to leave the CBBN, a new league will greatly reduce travel for student-athletes, coaches and parents to support our goals of reducing travel costs and loss of class time." 

Miller says Walla Walla's location played into the decision to join Tri-Cities schools.

"It would make no geographic sense for Walla Walla to be in an athletic league that did not include the Tri-Cities schools," Miller said.

A meeting will be held next week to discuss the standard operating procedures of the new league.  A task force is working on the bylaws for the league as well, which will include representation from Walla Walla.  The new league will generate one allocation to state for both the 3A and 4A classification. Miller said discussions are already underway with District 8 (Spokane) to combine allocations to provide another path to state for District 5 (new league) student-athletes and teams. 

Superintendent Miller has acted as the Walla Walla Public Schools' representative during efforts to keep the CBBN together and during the process to form a new league. 

"I've worked closely with the Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors to keep them informed of every step of the process," said Miller, who has served on the WIAA Executive Board and District 8 Board. "We are confident the new league will serve Walla Walla High School student-athletes well and are enthusiastic about Walla Walla having the opportunity to help start a new league."

For more information, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins at 509.526.6716 or mhiggins@wwps.org.