After a meeting held in Clay City and a meeting held in Noble, there is still no agreement on a two-year cooperative agreement for three sports regarding the two schools.
A decision wasn’t made after either meeting, which was designed to inform and allow the community members to speak on the possibility of a cooperative agreement.
.Both districts must accept an agreement, which must be turned in to Illinois High School Association (IHSA) by October.
A committee of superintendents, board members, athletic directors, coaches and principals has suggested forming a co-op for boys basketball, girls softball and cheerleading.
The committee has suggested that boys basketball and cheerleading could be hosted at Clay City and could be called the Clay City-Noble Wolves. The softball and girls basketball teams could be hosted at West Richland and be called the Noble-Clay City Wildcats.
Both districts have had a co-op of girls basketball for two years and the program has been hosted by West Richland.
A co-op would have to be formed for two years and approved by IHSA. The agreement would then have to be reviewed every two years by the state.
Clay City Athletic Director Adam Ellis, along with West Richland High School Principal Kevin Westall surveyed students at their respective schools on whether they would play in a possible co-op sport.
According to information presented at the meeting, there were seven girls from West Richland who played basketball this year and one girl from Clay City. If there were no co-op, 10 West Richland girls and two Clay City girls said they would have played.
With the co-op, eight West Richland girls and two Clay City said they would play.
There were 11 West Richland girls who played softball and 12 Clay City girls. If there were no co-op, 14 West Richland girls and 15 Clay City girls said they would play.
With a co-op, 14 West Richland girls and 10 Clay City girls said they would play.
There were 14 West Richland boys and 12 Clay City boys who played basketball. Without a co-op, 12 West Richland boys and 15 Clay City boys said they would play.
Ten boys from both schools said they would play if there is a co-op.
There were nine West Richland cheerleaders this year and 12 Clay City cheerleaders. Eleven West Richland girls and eight Clay City girls said they would cheer without a co-op.
Eight Noble girls and three Clay City girls said they would cheer with a co-op.
Residents were asking why most of the games would be played in Clay City.
Westall said West Richland’s gymnasium seats about 300 people and Clay City’s seats about 600.
A vote will be taken next Monday by the Clay City Unit 10 Board of Education on the issue at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
