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Hurley, Viborg Set To Form Athletic Co-Op In 2010
BY RANDY DOCKENDORF
randy.dockendorf@yankton.net
HURLEY — The Viborg and Hurley schools are forming a co-op for all of their athletic teams beginning in fall 2010, following a unanimous vote by both boards at this week’s joint meeting.
In addition, Hurley has notified Marion of its desire to dissolve the two schools’ football co-op after the 2009-2010 school year. The Hurley-Marion co-op won its first state title last week in the DakotaDome, as the Cobras claimed the Class 9AA title.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association has approved Hurley’s request for an early dissolution of the football co-op, said SDHSAA assistant executive director Bob Lowery.
But unless both schools agree otherwise, the current Hurley-Marion contract cannot be dissolved immediately, Lowery said.
“Hurley wanted to disband this year,” Lowery said. “But under the Marion-Hurley agreement, if they dissolve, one has to give the other 12 months’ notice. That gives both of them time to form a new co-op.”
Hurley Superintendent Shane Voss has said dissolution of the football co-op has nothing to do with negative feelings toward Marion. Rather, Hurley officials are pursuing the Viborg co-op for long-term reasons, including possible consolidation, he said.
Viborg and Hurley are facing an upcoming deadline as the SDHSAA prepares its new two-year classifications and alignments, Lowery said. “You have to apply by Jan. 1 if you are going to form a new co-op for football,” he said.
Under the state regulations, the new Viborg-Hurley co-op would assume Viborg’s football schedule for 2010, Lowery said. In turn, Marion would keep the Marion-Hurley schedule for the year after dissolution of the co-op.
At its January board meeting, the SDHSAA board will act on all co-op requests, Lowery said.
The situation involving Marion, Viborg and Hurley was awaiting the outcome of Tuesday’s consolidation vote in Bridgewater and Emery, Lowery said.
“If that (consolidation) happens, it would affect the co-op that now exists between Bridgewater and Canistota,” he said. “If Bridgewater and Emery go together, then Marion may want to co-op with Canistota. And it could affect a lot of other schools.”
Much more will be known after the Bridgewater-Emery election, Lowery said.
“The only thing for sure is that Hurley-Marion co-op for football will be dissolved effective with the 2010 football season,” he said.
The impact of the Viborg-Hurley co-op goes beyond sports. The two schools are using the co-op to continue discussion on consolidating their neighboring districts. The towns are located eight miles apart on South Dakota Highway 19.
Board presidents Kathy Boomgarden of Hurley and Jim Larsen of Viborg have expressed satisfaction with the new athletic co-op.
“This (agreement) is just for sports, but we already do share many teachers. This (co-op) is a move in that direction,” Boomgarden said.
Larsen said he sees the two districts moving forward on merger talks.
“Absolutely, we (at Viborg) are interested in consolidation,” he said. “This is the first of many future steps together. I think this is going to be a good fit.”
The Viborg board looked at three options, Larsen said.
“We could do nothing, and nobody wanted that,” he said. “We could do some sports in 2009 and wait for football (in 2010). Or we could co-op all sports in 2010. Our board wants a full co-op in 2010.”
Hurley board member Bruce Ebbesen said he would like the discussion with Viborg to continue beyond an athletic co-op. “What about academics?” he asked during Monday night’s joint board meeting.
Boomgarden said the all-sports co-op would form a solid foundation for consolidation talks. Schools that co-op generally form bonds between their communities that make merger discussions easier, she said.
While consolidation may be a long-term goal, Viborg and Hurley need to get started somewhere, Larsen said. Both boards have indicated they wanted to finalize the co-op and end rumors swirling in both communities.
“We need to get a date, and we need to get on the record,” he said. “Both towns are looking forward to working with each other. It’s time.”
The additional time will benefit both schools in forming the co-op, Larsen said.
“We want the year so it can be spent in planning,” he said. “And this way, the kids know, going into next season, this will be the last year for their school’s program.”
Voss and Viborg Superintendent Pat Kraning will work on a co-op plan and bring it to their respective boards as soon as possible. The plan will include a number of factors, such as a mascot, team colors and the manner of filling coaching assignments.
Hurley board vice chairman Steve Rabern said he wants to keep the towns’ names in the co-op, rather than choosing a generic geographic name.
“I wonder if the towns feel like they are losing their identity. Is this the best way?” Rabern asked, pointing to a number of co-ops and consolidated schools which have not used the towns’ names.
Kraning said he remains confident the Viborg-Hurley co-op will receive SDHSAA approval. In turn, the SDHSAA will work with any questions or concerns that arise with the co-op, he predicted.
“I think the Activities Association will be problem solvers,” Kraning said. “I don’t think the Activities Association will have a problem with this.”
The landscape could change greatly when reclassifications and realignments are undertaken early next year, Lowery said. He pointed to the tremendous enrollment shifts across South Dakota, with a boom in Sioux Falls and other areas compared to dwindling population in other areas of the state.
The dramatically changing enrollments, and the formation of more co-ops and consolidations, only promise to accelerate in the coming years, Lowery said.
“The state will look entirely different 5 to 10 years from now,” he said.
In addition, Hurley has notified Marion of its desire to dissolve the two schools’ football co-op after the 2009-2010 school year. The Hurley-Marion co-op won its first state title last week in the DakotaDome, as the Cobras claimed the Class 9AA title.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association has approved Hurley’s request for an early dissolution of the football co-op, said SDHSAA assistant executive director Bob Lowery.
But unless both schools agree otherwise, the current Hurley-Marion contract cannot be dissolved immediately, Lowery said.
“Hurley wanted to disband this year,” Lowery said. “But under the Marion-Hurley agreement, if they dissolve, one has to give the other 12 months’ notice. That gives both of them time to form a new co-op.”
Hurley Superintendent Shane Voss has said dissolution of the football co-op has nothing to do with negative feelings toward Marion. Rather, Hurley officials are pursuing the Viborg co-op for long-term reasons, including possible consolidation, he said.
Viborg and Hurley are facing an upcoming deadline as the SDHSAA prepares its new two-year classifications and alignments, Lowery said. “You have to apply by Jan. 1 if you are going to form a new co-op for football,” he said.
Under the state regulations, the new Viborg-Hurley co-op would assume Viborg’s football schedule for 2010, Lowery said. In turn, Marion would keep the Marion-Hurley schedule for the year after dissolution of the co-op.
At its January board meeting, the SDHSAA board will act on all co-op requests, Lowery said.
The situation involving Marion, Viborg and Hurley was awaiting the outcome of Tuesday’s consolidation vote in Bridgewater and Emery, Lowery said.
“If that (consolidation) happens, it would affect the co-op that now exists between Bridgewater and Canistota,” he said. “If Bridgewater and Emery go together, then Marion may want to co-op with Canistota. And it could affect a lot of other schools.”
Much more will be known after the Bridgewater-Emery election, Lowery said.
“The only thing for sure is that Hurley-Marion co-op for football will be dissolved effective with the 2010 football season,” he said.
The impact of the Viborg-Hurley co-op goes beyond sports. The two schools are using the co-op to continue discussion on consolidating their neighboring districts. The towns are located eight miles apart on South Dakota Highway 19.
Board presidents Kathy Boomgarden of Hurley and Jim Larsen of Viborg have expressed satisfaction with the new athletic co-op.
“This (agreement) is just for sports, but we already do share many teachers. This (co-op) is a move in that direction,” Boomgarden said.
Larsen said he sees the two districts moving forward on merger talks.
“Absolutely, we (at Viborg) are interested in consolidation,” he said. “This is the first of many future steps together. I think this is going to be a good fit.”
The Viborg board looked at three options, Larsen said.
“We could do nothing, and nobody wanted that,” he said. “We could do some sports in 2009 and wait for football (in 2010). Or we could co-op all sports in 2010. Our board wants a full co-op in 2010.”
Hurley board member Bruce Ebbesen said he would like the discussion with Viborg to continue beyond an athletic co-op. “What about academics?” he asked during Monday night’s joint board meeting.
Boomgarden said the all-sports co-op would form a solid foundation for consolidation talks. Schools that co-op generally form bonds between their communities that make merger discussions easier, she said.
While consolidation may be a long-term goal, Viborg and Hurley need to get started somewhere, Larsen said. Both boards have indicated they wanted to finalize the co-op and end rumors swirling in both communities.
“We need to get a date, and we need to get on the record,” he said. “Both towns are looking forward to working with each other. It’s time.”
The additional time will benefit both schools in forming the co-op, Larsen said.
“We want the year so it can be spent in planning,” he said. “And this way, the kids know, going into next season, this will be the last year for their school’s program.”
Voss and Viborg Superintendent Pat Kraning will work on a co-op plan and bring it to their respective boards as soon as possible. The plan will include a number of factors, such as a mascot, team colors and the manner of filling coaching assignments.
Hurley board vice chairman Steve Rabern said he wants to keep the towns’ names in the co-op, rather than choosing a generic geographic name.
“I wonder if the towns feel like they are losing their identity. Is this the best way?” Rabern asked, pointing to a number of co-ops and consolidated schools which have not used the towns’ names.
Kraning said he remains confident the Viborg-Hurley co-op will receive SDHSAA approval. In turn, the SDHSAA will work with any questions or concerns that arise with the co-op, he predicted.
“I think the Activities Association will be problem solvers,” Kraning said. “I don’t think the Activities Association will have a problem with this.”
The landscape could change greatly when reclassifications and realignments are undertaken early next year, Lowery said. He pointed to the tremendous enrollment shifts across South Dakota, with a boom in Sioux Falls and other areas compared to dwindling population in other areas of the state.
The dramatically changing enrollments, and the formation of more co-ops and consolidations, only promise to accelerate in the coming years, Lowery said.
“The state will look entirely different 5 to 10 years from now,” he said.
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