Conference Mediations for Charles City, Decorah, Waverly-Shell Rock Wednesday (07.17)

The futures of what will eventually be three former Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) schools could be decided by state officials starting Wednesday (07.17).

Charles City, Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock (WSR) are all headed for mediation in separate efforts to join new conferences starting with the 2025-26 school year. Moves precipitated with the NEIC set to dissolve after the 2024-25 school year after current league members New Hampton, Cresco-Crestwood, and Waukon have opted to join the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) starting July 1, 2025. 

Charles City is seeking to join the North Central Conference (NCC), which currently includes Fort Dodge St. Edmunds, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Clear Lake, Algona, Hampton-Dumont-Cal, Humboldt, Webster City and Iowa Falls-Alden. In March, Charles City’s bid to join the NCC was denied despite an 8-2 vote in favor of the Comets. However, NCC bylaws allow for denial if more than one member school votes against it.

In April, Decorah was voted down 8-2 to gain entry into the UIC, but hopes mediation will change that.

WSR was voted out of the NEIC two years ago because it had grown show much bigger than other league schools and exited the league June 30th. The Go-Hawks will be independent this school year, but are lobbying to join the WAMAC Conference next year.

Wednesday, all three schools will meet with representatives from the Iowa Board of Education, Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in three separate mediations at the Central Rivers AEA office in Cedar Falls. Charles City is scheduled first from 8 to 11 am, followed by Decorah from noon to 3 pm, and WSR from 4 to 7 pm.

Officials will have 60 days in which to make a ruling on the mediations.