SAD 1 school superintendent Dr. Gehrig Johnson’s decision to drop Presque Isle High School’s playing status to Class B in basketball, baseball, soccer and softball was made after several months of input from townspeople and school officials.

Johnson made the announcement at an SAD 1 school board meeting Wednesday night. For the past six years the school has applied to the Maine Principals’ Association to play at a higher enrollment classification in the four sports.

The school will begin playing as a Class B school in all sports in the 2003-2004 school year.

Presque Isle athletic director Dave Heald said the decision was made for a number of reasons.

“Of course the MPA has the enrollment guidelines so that there is a level playing field. As we look at enrollments, we’re probably not going to hold our current enrollment and the schools south of us are growing,” Heald said.

The MPA enrollment cutoff for playing in Class A is 725. Presque Isle’s current enrollment is 687.

Heald indicated that the decision was made tougher by the good relations the school has developed with many of the Class A schools.

“It wasn’t an easy decision. But although we’ve been competitive over the years we think it’s going to be harder to remain competitive.”

Johnson began the process in September when he solicited input from Presque Isle citizens.

“It was around [potato] harvest time. The superintendent went on television up here and asked people to submit their thoughts on moving down to Class B,” Heald said.

Heald said a “substantial” number of people responded through letters and e-mails. People also stopped by the school and the SAD 1 office to express their views.

“It was kind of a hard decision. It was still split. Especially [to remain atClass] A in basketball and soccer,” Heald said.

Heald said that although the school is stepping down to Class B, he would attempt to schedule some of the Class A schools the Wildcats have become accustomed to playing.

“We’re in hopes to still play some of the A’s. Caribou and some of the B schools still play some of the A’s. Maybe we could do it on a rotating basis,” Heald said.