The Kennewick School District decided Monday that all three high schools would opt up to the 4A classification starting with the 2008-09 school year.

The decision is the latest domino to fall since the WIAA released its preliminary enrollment figures two weeks ago that showed Eastmont moving up to the 4A ranks, leaving the Columbia Basin League with just six 3A schools.

Then on Thursday, the CBL's 4A athletic directors voted to recommend that the league disband following this school year and for the 4A and 3A schools to form separate leagues.

That led to Monday's decision by KSD, which came out of the district's regular meeting between the three high school athletic directors and Dave Bond, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education.

Bond said he, the ADs, the three high school principals and Superintendent Marlis Lindbloom spent an hour and 45 minutes discussing the pros and cons of opting up.

"We looked at the financial implications, scheduling implications, playoff opportunities, competitiveness issues, the community's expectations of who we play, and travel issues," Bond said. "After kicking those around, we decided the best thing for Kennewick the next two years is to opt up."

With Kamiakin, Kennewick and Southridge opting up, that makes 11 4A schools in the CBL, joining Eastmont, Davis, Eisenhower, Wenatchee, Pasco, Richland, Walla Walla and Moses Lake. Chiawana, the Pasco high school opening in 2009, will join the league then as a full-fledged 4A member.

Bond said the issue of scheduling nonleague games played a big part in his vote on the matter.

"For me, I didn't want to be shut out of games in the Tri-Cities," he said. "I've lived here since 1988, and it's hard to conceive the Kennewick schools not playing Pasco or Richland. There was no guarantee that there'd be room in their schedules for us, and if we can't play them, then where do we find games."

Kamiakin athletic director Don Schumacher, who had been neutral on the opt-up issue, had a different take on the same scheduling issue.

"The thing that bothered me the most was I didn't like the idea that we might have to play the other Kennewick schools twice in football or three times in those 20-game schedules," he said. "Then you see them in districts, in regionals, and that's too much familiarity. I don't think the kids like it or the coaches like it.

"The 3A had a lot of attractive things for us, but the reasons to go 4A outweighed them. It was a nice fit for KSD in 3A the last two years, but with the new dynamics, that's not true anymore."

The ripple effect of KSD's decision could reach as far as Spokane.

First up, the Richland School District must decide whether Hanford should opt up to remain in the league or remain 3A, then petition the 4A league or the WIAA to join as a 3A school.

RSD officials met Friday but took no action then, in part waiting to see what KSD decided.

"We have to look at what's in the best interest of our kids, and that to me is to play in the classification where they fall," said Hanford AD Tom Hegarty. "But obviously we need a league to play in, so that's something we'll have to consider."

The other two CBL 3A schools, West Valley and Sunnyside, have indicated they will remain 3A. Their options are either to join the 4A league or the 2A CWAC, although the second option is unlikely because that league already has its 2008 schedules set.

In the Greater Spokane League, Mount Spokane has indicated that it likely would opt up if the KSD schools did so.

Shadle Park, currently appealing its enrollment count that left it one student over the 4A limit, could decide to stay up as well, leaving the eastside with just five 3A schools.