Dearing recommends creation of Division II

Roger Dearing, the executive director of the Florida High School Athletic Association, has agreed with the urban/rural committee for the need of a new classification.
The committee recommended the creation of a Division II classification, open to member schools in communities designated rural by the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and whose enrollment is 500 students or less.
The association's board of directors will vote on the measure during next week's meeting in Gainesviile.
In other news, Dearing also approved a recommendation by board member Russell Wambles that would allow students in grades six through eight at combination schools to compete in sub-varsity levels only.
It would require a change in the FHSAA's bylaws. If approved, the change would be forwarded to the association's representative assembly for consideration in 2011.