The Future Land of the Irish Conference Affiliation – Interstate 8 vs. Other Options
May 2016 – January 2017: Looked into conference options that Seneca HS could fit better into with the projected future enrollment. February 15, 2017 - Board What has been the presentation of investigating this matter Process March 2, 2017 – Community Forum for questions & answers regarding this decision. March 3-9, 2017 – Community has the ability to complete a survey on the topic of conference affiliation. Information to help Seneca HS makes the best decision. March 15, 2017 – Board meeting will give final decision on the future conference affiliation for Seneca HS
• October 2016: Notify the I-8 Conference How’d we that Seneca HS has been invited to attend other conference meetings to discuss membership get here? • Oct – Jan: Attended many different conference meetings • Dec 2016: Receive invitation to SVC (football only) Timeline: • Jan 2017: I-8 Conference rejects several • May 2016: Mr. Voiles motions that could help the smaller schools compete. Accepts one that gives the staff his future reduces the number of cross-over football enrollment projections games from 2 to 1. • Feb. 2017: Received invitation to TCC • Fall 2016: Met with staff • Feb. 2017: Present my finding to the Board to get feel for how the of Ed. I-8 works for them
2000 – Enrollment 525: Sports How’d we teams had cuts get here? 2016 – Enrollment 421: No cuts necessary and trouble fielding 3 levels of teams in some sports 2023 – Projected Enrollment 353: What then? Seneca has always had great participation numbers and we hope that continues, but there is still a finite number of bodies.
Seneca ‘s history in the Interstate 8 Conference • Tradition – One of the founding schools in 1979. • 2004 – Present, the I- 8 School’s enrollments have (38 years of expanded 300 – 900 (forcing Dwight to leave in membership) 2013) • 78 Varsity Sports • In 2006, conference expanded to 12 teams Conference Titles adding Westmont, Manteno, Peotone, and • 1979 – 2004, the I-8 Herscher. In 2013, added Streator to replace School’s enrollments Dwight. 4 of 5 schools added had enrollments were mainly 300-500 over 600 (few outliers – Yorkville first, then Sandwich)
Future of the Interstate 8 Conference Now, I-8 Conference looks to o Currently, 5 schools have expand again by inviting schools of enrollments of 600 or all sizes. To date only schools to above show interest are 3 schools larger than Seneca. o Most schools (except Plano) are getting So even with schools getting smaller, smaller. Some at a the future of this conference higher rate than others appears to be getting larger. Smaller schools are being forced o Smaller schools have into difficult decisions discussed the future and all had concerns. Preferred to be proactive to those decisions rather than reactive.
Future of Seneca High School 2023 Projected Enrollment 353 Problems with being Reactive The Need to Be Proactive (Waiting until 2023 when projected enrollment is 353) (Now is the time for serious decisions) We have 2 conferences willing to It could be too late, these conferences accept us NOW move on and will not need us when we need them Conferences with quality schools and conferences with very proud traditions May not find a situation as good as the invitations we have right NOW Data suggests that we are the SMALLEST in the I-8 Conference, that More years of competing against larger does not appear to be changing in I-8 Schools that could limit our ability to the future. remain competitive Change NOW may help us to Change LATER may be too late when it maintain our outstanding comes to maintaining student participation from our students participation.
Other Conference Options Sangamon Valley Conference Tri-County Conference (Football Only) Average enrollment of these schools is just Average enrollment of these schools is just over 300 over 200. Distance from Seneca HS on average is Distance from Seneca HS on average is about 18 miles further than the travel in the about 5.5 miles further than the travel in the Interstate 8. Interstate 8 Travel on Friday night football is not as much NO FOOTBALL a concern for educational purposes (not a school night) as it may be for parents Seneca has been officially invited to join Seneca has been officially invited to join Schools: Marquette, Woodland, Putnam Schools: Dwight, Clifton Central, Iroquois County, DePue, Midland, Henry, Low Point – West, Momence, Watseka, and Paxton- Washburn, Roanoke-Benson, and Peoria Buckley-Loda Christian.
Should We Stay or Should We Go? Reasons for Joining the NEW Reasons to Remain in Conferences the I-8 Conference As the largest school (TCC) and one of the largest (SVC), Tradition allow us to remain competitive and makes for more positive Less Travel experiences for our student/athletes. Opponent’s schools have GREAT Look at our neighbors and how it has impacted their sports facilities programs. Not just in victories, as the numbers of students Does playing bigger schools make participating has risen dramatically in those programs. the teams better or more (Dwight, Streator, Marquette FB) discouraged? Seneca HS enrollment fits better into the membership of There are some activities that the these schools NEW conferences would not offer Any activities that we currently are active in that are not offered by these conferences, Seneca HS would do its best to begin those activities at the conference level or regional level.
Now What? THE SENECA WAY Document created by Seneca HS Staff and Administration to guide o Host a Public Question & Answer the leaders of this school Forum to answer any questions Preparing and Supporting ALL individuals from the community may have. March 2, 2017 at STUDENTS for success 7:00PM in the Seneca HS This document has created a Auditorium culture of always doing what is best o Community will be given the for the students of Seneca HS opportunity to complete a survey on this matter to provide the board of education input. o Board will re-visit this topic at March meeting .
QUESTIONS
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