DON McDERMOTT MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

Silence is not necessarily golden.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has some major problems brewing, but there has been no comment on two major subjects.

The first affects the Pahrump Valley High School athletics program. Will Class 4-A girls soccer be played in the fall, or will it return to the winter season? It is a legitimate question, because of the possibility of renewed litigation by a Henderson Green Valley student exists.

Last fall, the Lady Trojans played in the Southern Nevada Class 3-A League -- and for the first time ever -- qualified for the state tournament. Southern Nevada Class 4-A girls teams are playing this winter; in fact, the playoffs are Feb. 24, 26, March 2, 5, with all games to be played at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex on the Cimarron-Memorial High School campus.

It would be logical for the NIAA to inform Pahrump Valley of its official stance as soon as possible, like last week.

The second talking point should be how Nevada high and middle school athletics will be affected by the state budget crisis. Education funds, if Gov. Jim Gibbons' mindless suggestions are voted into existence, would knock out some programs, limit schedules in those that survive -- and even more problematic, determine whether some highly qualified teachers/coaches remain in Nevada. The pocketbook can take only so many hits before it falls into economic chaos.

It's not the NIAA's job to tell the governor what to do (although it couldn't hurt). But NIAA officials should begin to formulate a response to Gibbons, telling him that he is a day late and a dollar short on doing the right thing for Nevada academics and all of its associated programs.

The Nye County School District is addressing a potential financial shortfall, so down the road, expect personnel cuts, program eliminations, and other mayhem that diminishes the quality of educational institutions.

Dr. Rob Roberts, the superintedent of schools, and the board of education are working on plans for the 2009-2010 school year. Expect some information to flow soon for a simple reason; time is of the essence.

There is one more relatively minor problem. What's going to happen to Class 3-A in Nevada?

Of course, if there is no money to fund athletics, it won't make any difference. But let's say funding is available (because of a miracle, or the feds' trillion-dollar stimulus plan becomes a reality ... whichever comes first). Only 10 Class 3-A schools will be in existence in 2009-2010 and that ain't no way to operate a league.

Is the NIAA developing a realignment plan that saves Class 3-A? If not ... why not?

We're not writing this because we want Pahrump Valley High School athletics to compete at the 3-A level again. Being in 4-A exposes Trojan athletes to the big-time, in publicity and recruiting. (Check the Web site, www.nevadapreps.com on how many Las Vegas-area student-athletes have been recruited.) Eventually, that exposure will include PVHS boys and girls who have been giving it their all this school year.