Decorah Gets Hearing Before Conference Realignment Committee

While no final decision was made, the Decorah School District’s request to possibly form a new conference similar to the old Northeast Iowa Conference is still alive.

The Conference Realignment Committee met last Wednesday (03.25) to discuss Decorah’s application and identify of conferences for possible placement. The committee also discussed whether new legislation passed last year afforded the committee the power to create a new conference.

Committee Chair Marty Fonley said reached out to state officials for more clarification, with feedback indicating the intent of the legislation was to place schools in conferences, that the committee could recommend to the legislature suggestions for a better way to organize conferences, and the committee could recommend creation of new conferences, but not force schools into them.

Fonley led discussion on the schools listed in Decorah’s application for a new conference, which includes former NEIC members Charles City, Waukon, Crestwood, and New Hampton, plus North Fayette Valley and Osage. The committee also discussed the options for Decorah and the surrounding schools. 

It was determined that the Iowa Star, Mississippi Valley, and the North Iowa Cedar League did not make sense for Decorah as conference options. However, the committee will consider the North Central Conference, Upper Iowa Conference, Top of Iowa Conference, and the WaMaC.

The next step for the committee is a hearing on April 29th at the IHSAA in Boone for a decision for schools applying through the modified process. Schools and conferences that could be affected will be contacted by the committee prior to the meeting.