Corn Belt, Okaw Valley propose conference merger

Posted on February 16, 2016
Central Catholic High School
Bloomington Central Catholic is a longtime member of the Corn Belt Conference. (Photo courtesy Facebook/CentralCatholicHighSchool)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Schools in the Corn Belt and Okaw Valley have voted unanimously in favor of merging the two conferences.

A press release said athletic directors from members schools have met numerous times to discuss athletic schedules.

The proposal will be handed off to the schools’ superintendents and Board’s of Education for consideration. If approved, the new 10-school conference would begin with the 2017-2018 school year.

Naming the new conference would include student input, which would be brought back to the principals who will meet later this year to propose a name.

University High School recently announced it will be leaving the Corn Belt beginning with the 2017 school year, which would leave the conference with just 5 schools.

The new conference would consist of:

  • Bloomington Central Catholic High School
  • Illinois Valley Central High Scool
  • Olympia High School
  • Pontiac High School
  • Prairie Central High School
  • High School of St. Thomas More
  • Monticello High School
  • Rantoul high School
  • St. Joseph-Ogden High School
  • Unity (Tolono) High School

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…