Early numbers jeopardize football sharing agreement
Central Lee may drop HTC if enrollment numbers push them into Class 3A
Posted
TRANSPARENCY
This has been a positive experience for both schools, and we’ve enjoyed hosting Holy Trinity Catholic students. While we hope enrollment numbers allow the agreement to continue, we want to be transparent with our community about the situation”
Wes McGraw, Central Lee Activities Director
MORE TRANSPARENCY
We are all are in positions that aren’t great for our area. None of us are in a good spot and it will continue to be an issue every two years. But we want to make sure we are doing what’s best for everyone where we can.”
Jeff Lamb, FMCSD Activities Director
Chuck Vandenberg, Pen City Current Editor
DONNELLSON - The Central Lee Community School District is reassessing its football sharing agreement with Holy Trinity Catholic Schools after preliminary Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) data indicated the team’s classification could move from Class 2A to Class 3A.
The agreement between Central Lee and Holy Trinity Catholic Schools, established two years ago, includes a provision to terminate the partnership if combined enrollment numbers result in a shift to Class 3A. Since the IHSAA's data is preliminary, the district is not required to make immediate decisions. Central Lee will continue monitoring enrollment data through the 2025-26 school year.
"This has been a positive experience for both schools, and we’ve enjoyed hosting Holy Trinity Catholic students,” said Wes McGraw, Central Lee Activities Director. “While we hope enrollment numbers allow the agreement to continue, we want to be transparent with our community about the situation."
If updated numbers indicate that Central Lee would remain in Class 2A, the district plans to continue its football sharing agreement with Holy Trinity Catholic Schools, McGraw said. Fort Madison Community School District hosted the shared football program with HTC prior to Central Lee. Fort Madison discontinued the shared program for the same reason, which pushed the Bloodhounds into 4A from 3A. Central Lee Superintendent Dr. Andy Crozier said early numbers also indicate that Fort Madison would jump to Class 4A again, if HTC numbers are added. FMCSD Activities Director Jeff Lamb said he doesn't know if Fort Madison would pick up HTC again if Central Lee ends the shared programming. "I don’t know. We do have a meeting scheduled with (Holy Trinity), and we are trying to be as transparent as possible. We are pretty firm on not bumping up football. But we want to continue to be transparent and provide what we can for all people involved," he said. "We are all in positions that aren’t great for our area. None of us are in a good spot, and it will continue to be an issue every two years. But we want to make sure we are doing what’s best for everyone where we can." Fort Madison and HTC still have several shared programs in place including baseball, track, tennis, and girls cross country. If neither FMCSD or Central Lee were to offer a shared football program, HTC would have to look to other area schools including Keokuk or Burlington for football.
Keywords
Central Lee,
Fort Madison Community School District,
Holy Trinity Catholic,
football. BED numbers,
enrollment,
shared programs,
football,
schools,
sports,
Crusaders,
Hawks,
Bloodhounds,
news,
Pen City Current
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here