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Summerland School officials have until Nov. 30 to declare if the Bobcat football team will play in the eight-man division during the next two-year cycle.

During the Oct. 16 board of education meeting, activities director Zach Rosenboom said the current enrollment shows 63 male students in grades nine, ten and eleven.

"The cutoff (for eight-man) is 47," he said.

Rosenboom said a one-cycle waiver is available, which makes the Bobcats eligible for post-season play.

Board member Nate Schwager asked for a breakdown of proposed enrollment for future cycles.

Superintendent Kyle Finke said the next classification cycle, which would include current seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students, shows an increase.

"It grows for one more cycle and then it drops off," Finke said.

Rosenboom clarified that for two cycles, Summerland would be above the cutoff number.

Schwager asked if it's possible to get data prior to a decision from the board.

"As far as clarifying eight man for this cycle?" Rosenboom asked.

Board president Steven Thiele asked if there's value going to 11-man two years early.

Rosenboom said junior varsity and junior high schedules will have to be considered, too.

"I realize the coaching staff wants to stay eight man and I think most of the kids want to stay eight man, but if we're looking at 11-man in the foreseeable future, maybe we think about how this will take place," Schwager said.

Finke said he "assumed" the consensus would be to remain in eight-man and receive the waiver for the next two years.

"We can put together numbers and share them," Finke said.

Thiele asked if it's possible to remain in eight-man at the varsity level, while the junior high moves to 11-man. It could be a possibility the administration investigates.

Schwager said he's interested to see what other area school districts do. Crofton has already declared eight-man for the next two years.

"Are the teams we play now going to 11-man?" Schwager asked.

Rosenboom said he believes the trend is the opposite, with most moving from 11- to eight-man.

"Their enrollments are going down. Not all necessarily around here, but throughout the state," he said.

Other proposals introduced at the Nebraska School Activities Association level could have an impact on classifications also.

A nine-man proposal has been introduced in one of the six NSAA districts. Another proposal bumps the 8-man threshold to 51, while a separate proposal pushes the number to 55. Finke said he doesn't know if the nine-man proposal will be approved.

"Especially if they keep eight-man one and eight-man two and a nine-man. The logistics of adding another state championship (aren't feasible)," Finke said. "My opinion, that 55 number is already up to the C2 (numbers)."

Schwager said some parents he has talked to are "open to the conversation of going to 11-man now."

"They want to see the data," Schwager said.

Finke said numbers are only one part of the equation.

"We don't know if there's a coop that's going to happen out there, then their number combines and jumps ahead of us," Finke said. "Once these numbers come out in November, I think we can put together some things."

Schwager said he doesn't feel the turning the statement in now is "the way to go."

"I think we need to have a conversation on that," Schwager said.

Proposals will be discussed at the NSAA-district level next month.

For the current cycle, Chase County High School is the largest school in Class C2 with 81 male students. Ponca High School recorded 49 students and is the smallest population in Class C2. Six schools are ineligible for playoffs this year and another six schools are in the two-year exempt cycle.

Thiele said the topic will be discussed again at the board's November meeting.

Classifications and game schedules for the next cycle will be released by the NSAA in early February.