My observation from a slighty-less than two-hour sit down at the Arizona Interscholastic Association's gathering of its Legislative Council on Friday morning:

The big news was the vote by the Legislative Council  to approve a six-conference format beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
Schools wanted control in their hands where they felt it wasn't in recent years. Now they have it. They must do the right thing with that control.

That means for big schools (6A, 5A 4A) taking care of Phoenix Union, Yuma and any other districts who have struggled of late to keep their head above water from a competition standpoint. A lot of assurances were expressed to Phoenix Union district AD Zach Munoz that PUHSD schools would be tended to properly. Hopefully the same went to Yuma schools, etc. The big schools are bound by this resolve and MUST put their money where their mouth is going forward.

Same with the small-school triumvirate (3A, 2A and 1A). Private schools and charters have gradually and with greater frequency dominated the small-school athletic landscape. That's well and good, but there is a perceived and real divide between rural community schools and the former group in terms of competition.

There could be (should be) proposals that 3A, 2A and 1A discuss as soon as possible that go beyond strict conference placement based on enrollment . One outlined by Arizona Lutheran Academy athletic director Doug Meyer would implement a multiplier that would put some privates or charters perhaps a conference higher than enrollment alone suggests. That's a good idea (somewhat similar to what free-and-reduced lunch did this past year) in helping determine alignment for small conference schools.

Proposals like that one and any others that could help level the playing field across all conferences is welcome. There is no room for slight-of-hand proposals that sound good, but  don't have the bite to deliver.

Scheduing is huge component. It's also now back in the hands of schools. They are free to compose slates in whatever way serves conferences best. Even using the computer if need be. If done right it can be effective and will have to be now that appealing up or down by program (not sport) is the only avenue of appeal.

Conferences. The ball is in your court. Will you deliver? The state is watching.