PERRY -- Westfield will remain in the GISA for at least the next three years after its board of trustees voted to not leave for the GHSA.
William Carroll, Westfield’s head of school, said the decision wasn’t contingent on the decision of other schools.
“We’re staying in the GISA,” he said.
Many of the larger GISA schools are facing similar decisions after Mount de Sales voted Jan. 24 to leave the organization for the GHSA. Mount de Sales’ departure drains the GISA of one of its largest interscholastic members.
Westfield, however, is the first large school to publicly announce its intentions to remain in the GISA.
“It has been an ongoing sort of discussion for our school,” Carroll said. “The conversation has picked up since (Mount de Sales announced its departure). That generated some conversation in our community.”
Carroll said the board considered travel concerns, finances, student body size and the experience the school has had as a GISA member school.
“As with any situation that may affect our school and the academic and athletic opportunities for our students, we will continue to monitor the benefits of membership in both the GISA and Georgia High School Association over the next two years,” Carroll said.
Other GISA schools are expected to make decisions in the coming weeks. Both Stratford and Tattnall Square are weighing their options, officials from both schools have said, and will have decisions in late February or early March. The deadline for applying for GHSA membership is April 1.
When presented the scenario of Stratford, Tattnall and region rival Deerfield-Windsor all leaving for the GHSA, Carroll said Westfield would still stick with the GISA for at least the next reclassification cycle. If those schools left, then Westfield would be one of the largest GISA schools remaining.
“It comes down to what’s the right thing for our school,” Carroll said. “We feel like (staying in the GISA) is the right move at this time.”
Deerfield, the Albany school that is Westfield’s biggest rival, is taking a wait-and-see approach in regards to a decision to remain in the GISA or leave for the GHSA.
Athletics director Gordy Gruhl said Deerfield is looking at its future following Mount de Sales’ decision to leave.
“I think moving to the GHSA is something we have to look at, especially with the trickle down if Tattnall and Stratford leave,” Gruhl said. “If that happened, we’d have to seriously look at moving. … It’s a difficult decision, one we won’t make hastily.”
Daniel Shirley contributed to this report.
