Judge nixes request for reduction of multiplier in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas' high school football classifications are staying the same for now.

A Pulaski County judge on Thursday denied a motion that would have reduced the state's multiplier for the upcoming football season -- and would have forced at least a few teams to change their schedules.

Gary Holt, a lawyer whose son is a student-athlete at Arkansas Baptist, was seeking a court order preventing the Arkansas Activities Association from using the new 1.75 multiplier.

Circuit Judge Mary S. McGowan rejected the request for a preliminary injunction that would have moved some teams from their assigned classifications.

"The governing body of the association determined that a multiplier was appropriate in order to have fair competition," she said in her ruling. "The classification has a reasonable basis based on the advantages of nonpublic schools over public schools."

The multiplier is used to adjust enrollment figures for private schools for classification purposes, addressing perceived advantages they have over their public counterparts. Studies have shown that private schools have higher sports participation rates. Also, they generally draw students from a wider area than public schools.

From 2002 through 2005, a 1.35 multiplier was used in Arkansas, but the AAA's member schools voted last year to increase it to 1.75 starting this fall, when a two-year classification cycle begins.

"It's obvious that she felt she had very little leeway in dealing with the AAA," Holt said. "Obviously, I respectfully disagree."