Hello AHSTW Families,
Since joining AHSTW CSD, I have known the Western Iowa Conference [WIC] as a nine-member group, and this structure has served us well. We as a conference provide competition for each other in all sports and our conference prepares our teams to compete during all post-season pathways as evidenced by successes of our conference schools. That said, I understand that the WIC has undergone various changes over time, with schools joining or departing in response to evolving needs either of the conference or individual districts.
Currently, conference realignment has often been in the news across the State of Iowa and college conferences across the nation. With that said, the Western Iowa Conference has not been immune to the conversations. In recent years, schools districts in southwest Iowa have requested initial consideration to become part of the Western Iowa Conference [WIC]. Those requests have not gathered strong consideration and have resulted in no formal requests.
However, recently at least four [4] WIC schools were approached to gauge their interest in departing their current conference, our conference. Although, the Western Iowa Conference, I believe, serves us well, other districts may have different beliefs due to changes their district has or is undergoing and if each of those invitations were to be accepted that would leave AHSTW with only four [4] conference schools to compete against. Please know that I do not believe that all the schools would accept, but if even if one or two accepted, we would be required to find more non-conference games to fill our schedules, which could prove difficult.
So, to be proactive during an uncertain time, the Western Iowa Conference began to have conversations on how we might be able to first maintain membership of all conference schools and then determine how we might look to responsibly expand. Many factors went into the evaluation of who may be a good partner for our conference. Factors considered, but not limited to, were district size, furthest distance necessary for travel, number of activities sponsored, and levels of competition in each sport.
With the uncertainty surrounding the WIC and other neighboring conferences, due to conference changes and sharing agreements between school districts, we, as a conference, did decide to extend invitations to the following schools to gauge their interest in joining the Western Iowa Conference: ACGC, Earlham, MVAOCOU, Nodaway Valley, Panorama, Red Oak, Shenandoah, Southwest Valley, West Central Valley, and Westwood, Sloan.
From an AHSTW Community School District perspective, many of the schools identified are schools that we have played in a non-conference, district football, or tournament pathway and would continue to provide our student/athletes positive competition experiences.
At this time, schools have until August 1, 2025, to reach out to our conference with a formal request to join, and at that point the schools will be considered, and a conference vote will be held to formally approve any additions to the conference. Please note that any changes to the conference will not immediately occur, as conference schedules need to be honored and preparation for an expanded conference will begin. This means the inaugural season for a newly formed expanded WIC would be during the 2027-2028 school year.
Please feel free to reach out to myself with any questions regarding the process or with feedback.
Respectfully,
Mr. Darin Jones
Superintendent
AHSTW Community School District
