Fort Smith Public Schools' final attempt at keeping its two high schools together in the same conference for the Arkansas Activities Association's 2020-22 reclassification cycle has failed.

Two measures -- one that would keep Northside and Southside together in all sports, and another to keep them together in all sports but football -- were voted down by the state's largest schools. The schools' ballots were counted and votes became official during the AAA board of directors meeting Thursday morning in North Little Rock.

The ballot to keep the two Fort Smith high schools together in all sports failed by a margin of 11 votes against and 5 votes for it, while the ballot to keep Northside and Southside together in all sports but football had nine votes against it and eight for it. Both ballots needed a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass.

As a result, Southside will move into the 7A-West Conference for football and 6A-West Conference for all other sports for the 2020-22 cycle, while Northside will remain in the 7A-Central Conference for football and 6A-West Conference for other sports. This marks the first time since 1980 that the two schools -- which are less than 3 miles apart -- will be in different conferences.

Had the measures passed, it would have left the state's largest classification with nine teams in one conference and seven in the other.

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

Sports on 10/25/2019