Pros and cons of expanding the sports cooperative agreements between Worth County and Northeast Nodaway were discussed.
Recently, Northeast Nodaway surveyed students to determine interest in participating in sports. Only six boys out of 29 coming into school for next year expressed interest in going out for boys basketball. Injuries and eligibility issues mean that Northeast Nodaway is at risk for not fielding a boys basketball team for next year.
Numbers have also been an issue on the girls side as well. Last season, Worth County started with nine girls but finished with seven. This was their fewest numbers since the 1991-92 season. Northeast Nodaway started with nine girls this year, but finished with seven. This meant neither team could practice against five players.
The participation numbers have been better for the junior high basketball programs. Worth County had 14 girls and 15 boys out for junior high. Northeast Nodaway had 10 boys and 10 girls out for basketball. This meant that both teams could scrimmage against each other.
Recently, NEN Superintendent Brenda Dougan sent the following letter to parents after reaching out to Worth County:
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we do each year, athletic teams have been reviewed to determine participation numbers for each sport at each level. For the 2024-25 school year, our high school boys basketball team has some very low numbers. Due to many reasons including eligibility and injuries, we are at risk for not being able to complete the entire basketball season with just NEN athletes. Quality practices are also very difficult to maintain with low numbers. This started a conversation on how we can assure that our athletes will continue to have an opportunity to participate.
Due to the successful cooperative we have had with Worth County for football and baseball, the thought of expanding our sports cooperative with Worth County is worth exploring. A few weeks ago, we approached Worth County Administration with a request to discuss the possibility of expanding our sports cooperative. Together, we are evaluating the pros and cons of expanding the cooperative effort and will share our findings with the community before any final decisions are made.
We understand that there are individuals with very strong opinions on both sides of this topic. Both districts have a responsibility to prioritize the best interests of their students. We plan to have more discussions and a well thought-out plan for continuing a strong athletic program before disseminating any information.
Worth County Superintendent Chris Healy sent a similar letter to parents. The topic was brought up for discussion at Monday’s regular school board meeting. No votes were taken; the floor was opened for discussion.
Enrollment at Worth County has declined from 440 in 2000 to 275 this year. Northeast Nodaway has also seen a decline.
Pros include a better chance of being competitive. Worth County has one of the lower enrollments in the Grand River Conference while St. Joseph Christian has a stated goal of expanding to 700 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade, bigger than what Worth County was following the consolidation between Grant City and Sheridan in 1976.
Numbers would not be as big of an issue. This year, Worth County was barely able to field a junior high softball program, with the school begging three sixth graders to come out. “I dealt with that when I was in school,” said one board member, Amanda Gilland. “It was a disaster.” Platte Valley, Nodaway Valley, and East Atchison have emerged as powerhouse teams in basketball after forming sports cooperatives.
One thing that would normally be thought of as a disadvantage would be an advantage in Worth County’s situation. Since they have only one gym, basketball practices are sometimes not over until 7:30 pm. But with Northeast Nodaway, practices would end earlier.
Disadvantages include the loss of tradition, loss of playing time, loss of home games, transportation, and the possibility of moving up to Class 2 in some sports. For instance, if the current MSHSAA enrollment breaks hold, Worth County would move up to Class 2 in boys basketball if they were to sign a cooperative agreement with Northeast Nodaway. Northeast Nodaway moved up to Class 2 in baseball last year after Worth County joined them to form a cooperative.
One of the biggest discussions in forming a cooperative would involve what the new team should be called, what the uniforms should look like, who would hire the coaches, and where home games would be played.
The decision to form a cooperative for baseball and football was easier for the two schools, since Northeast Nodaway didn’t have a football program and Worth County didn’t have a baseball program. Everybody in the room at Monday’s meeting agreed that the moves to coop with Northeast Nodaway in baseball and football were the right move. Worth County would not have fielded a junior high football team this year without Northeast Nodaway kids. Northeast Nodaway would not have had a baseball team last year without Worth County kids. But a move to form cooperatives in basketball or softball would involve combining two existing programs with two existing traditions, which will be a much tougher sell for the two schools to their patrons.
Both softball squads had enough numbers to field a competitive team last year. The challenge would be to sell the players on coming out when it means that some players who started or who were part of the rotation suddenly find themselves playing two innings of JV or coming off the bench in varsity. In basketball, Platte Valley has been able to make it work, winning three state titles on the girls side in four years.
And forming just a boys basketball cooperative between Worth County and Northeast Nodaway would have its own logistical problems. The Northeast Nodaway girls team would have trouble scheduling games outside of the Highway 275 Conference and tournaments, since most area teams have both boys and girls teams and other schools would need to find a boys game.
Northeast Nodaway would be within their rights to seek a basketball cooperative with another school and keep their current cooperative agreements with Worth County in place. Currently, Worth County has a wrestling cooperative agreement with Albany in place in addition to their cooperative agreements with Northeast Nodaway. Northeast Nodaway borders Jefferson, which already has a cooperative with South Nodaway. Besides Worth County and Jefferson, they border Stanberry, Maryville, and North Nodaway. However, teams cannot get together with other teams to practice against each other during seasons.
In other action, the school evaluated the Curriculum Program as Above Average. Strengths listed included approving the Pre-K curriculum, board policy reviews being on schedule, the school’s ability to offer a variety of coursework, and the K-12 curriculum being up to date and aligned with Priority Missouri Learning Standards.
All current teachers were offered new contracts for the upcoming school year. There are openings for two elementary teacher positions.
The board set Summer School for May 20th to June 7th for PreK through 6th grades. Students who will be going into Kindergarten this fall will be eligible. Credit recovery for grades seven through twelve will be from May 20th to June 3rd.
Elementary Principal Chuck Borey reported that Kindergarten enjoyed muffins with mom on February 22nd. Registration is ongoing for Pre-K. The Drama Club did a dress rehearsal for the Elementary Students on March 8th. Parent/Teacher conferences were March 14th.
Teresa McDonald with the Tri-County Health Department came to give all Pre-K and Kindergarten students free bicycle helmets. This was funded by a grant from safekids.org.
The Pre-K filled up their compliment coin jar and received time outside with bubbles.
A career day for the upper elementary was held on March 14th. Presenters were Taylor Raymond of Preferred Family Healthcare, Kortnee Blankenship of Kort’s Kuts N’ Kurls, Travis Casteel of the Worth County Sheriff’s Department, Ken Garner and Riley Drury of the Times Tribune, and Paul Tracy with Tracy Farms.
High School Principal Josh Smith reported that the freshmen won the January and February attendance challenge with a 95.66% attendance rate.
Math contest was held on March 7th; Caleb New qualified for state.
Students helped with the mobile food pantry that came to Grant City on March 11th.
Activities Director Cree Beverlin reported that patches near the starting line on the track were replaced.
Tyler New and Bo Collins were named to the All District team and Tyler was awarded All State.
There will be 18 teams at the Worth County Early Bird Thursday.
There are 25 out for track (total for both squads), 11 for boys golf, and 5 for baseball. There are 14 girls and 8 boys out for junior high track.
Emsley Spainhower received a “1” rating, the highest, for her trumpet solo and will go to state in the State Solo & Ensembles division next month. All other band participants received a “2.”
The board awarded a bid for visitor bleachers to Heartland Seating for $90,000, contingent on passage of the bond issue April 2nd. Passage requires four sevenths. Superintendent Chris Healy said in his background comments that visitor bleachers have been identified as a need by the insurance company, visitors, and the long range planning committee. Currently, there are three sets of bleachers on the east side. Healy says they do not meet safety requirements, require yearly maintenance, and are a long way from the football field. They also sit lower than the field level.
The new bleachers would be in two 33 foot sections and would be located on the west side.
One section would be north of the current bleachers and one would be south. The school has applied for a solid waste grant to help fund the project. The board, in a separate vote, approved the grant application. The concrete work would be bid separately.
The board voted to award the bid for new softball lights from Ephesus Sports Lighting and move the fences in to 200 feet, which is regulation for softball. The award is contingent on approval of the bond issue on April 2nd. There were two bids. Techline, which was awarded the bid for the football field, bid $169,000 for the current dimensions and 6 poles. They did not bid on a 200 foot fence and 4 poles. Ephesus Sports Lighting bid $89,098 for the current dimensions and six poles and $74,543 for a 200 foot fence and 4 poles. Labor and underground electrical will be bid separately.
The board amended the upcoming school year to account for a later MSHSAA dead period, which will run from August 3rd through 11th. Fall sports practices will start August 12th and the first day of school will be on August 20th. Christmas Break will start on December 23rd and school will resume January 7th. The tentative final day of school will be May 16th. There will be 167 student days and 1070.5 scheduled hours.
The board voted to award L.J. Hart to underwrite the bonds from the April 2024 election should the bond issue pass.
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