PORTLAND – Those running the Maine Principal’s Association Interscholastic Division business meeting at its fall conference at the Holiday Inn certainly knew how to create an early-morning buzz, putting the hottest issue at the top of the list on Friday.

After nearly a half hour of debate, the MPA’s general membership voted 36-29 against allowing qualifying teams to compete at any New England-level competition, the third such defeat of the year for the proposal.

“That stinks,” said Mt. Blue cross country coach Kelley Cullenberg. “It’s really too bad for the kids that are missing out on this tremendous opportunity.”

Cullenberg had two athletes, a boy and a girl, qualify for this year’s New England competition as individuals, but took more than that down to watch.

“The kids that came with us saw some of the runners from the other schools’ teams and couldn’t believe it,” he said. “They could have easily run with, if not better than, several of the runners there. It really is just too bad.”

The only sport the decision currently applies to is cross country, but some educators were leery that passing such a proposal might mean the inclusion of too many other sports.

“With the cost involved, I don’t know that this is such a good idea,” said Winthrop representative Phil Richardson. “Pretty soon you’ll have baseball and football asking to do this. Where does it end? We’re in what people like to call the southern part of the state, where people say all the money is, but if it happened that our team qualified, I guarantee that they wouldn’t be able to go.”

Those in support of the proposal included outgoing MPA president Jeanne Crocker of South Portland.

“I am in favor of allowing the schools to make their own decisions,” said Crocker. “I am only in favor of this proposal in this instance, where it applies only to cross country. As principals and leaders, we are faced with making decisions every day that fly in the face of established norms. Here, the students, coaches and the cross country committee have voiced their opinion. The coaches and students I have spoken with say that this is a good idea, and I agree.”

Representatives from smaller schools like George Stevens Academy, Mattanawcook and Winthrop were against the proposal because of worries over funding.

Some small schools’ representatives, though, were in favor of the idea.

“I’ve listened to the arguments on both sides,” said Lisbon principal Ken Healey. “The reasons why we shouldn’t do this sound to me like mostly local prerogative and not what may be best for the kids. This might be a good opportunity for the kids that wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to compete at this level.”

One compelling argument to the contrary came from GSA’s John Green, who was concerned about leaving certain kids out of the loop. Currently, the four class champions and next 21 best runners, regardless of class qualify, for the New England meet. That would not have changed under the proposal, meaning some runners who finished back in the pack in their respective class might get an opportunity to run in the regional meet while the 26th or 29th best times overall would be left out.

“That doesn’t seem very fair,” said Green.

This is the third defeat of the proposal. Two years ago it was voted down, and a measure offered this spring was sent back to the Interscholastic Management Committee for recommendation. That committee voted not to endorse the proposal.

“This should be a choice that each school makes,” said Cullenberg. “They are penalizing the kids all over the state because some schools have funding issues.

“You can’t mean to tell me that teams wouldn’t be able to find some way to raise money as the season goes along. If they don;t win states, they can use the money for something else worthwhile for the team.”