The Future Land of the Irish Conference Affiliation Interstate 8 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Future Land of the Irish

Conference Affiliation – Interstate 8 vs. Other Options

What has been the Process

Information to help Seneca HS makes the best decision.

• May 2016 – January 2017: Looked

into conference options that Seneca HS could fit better into with the projected future enrollment.

• February 15, 2017 - Board

presentation of investigating this matter

• March 2, 2017 – Community Forum

for questions & answers regarding this decision.

• March 3-9, 2017 – Community has

the ability to complete a survey on the topic of conference affiliation.

• March 15, 2017 – Board meeting will

give final decision on the future conference affiliation for Seneca HS

How’d we get here?

• October 2016: Notify the I-8 Conference

that Seneca HS has been invited to attend

• ther conference meetings to discuss

membership

• Oct – Jan: Attended many different

conference meetings

• Dec 2016: Receive invitation to SVC

(football only)

• Jan 2017: I-8 Conference rejects several

motions that could help the smaller schools compete. Accepts one that reduces the number of cross-over football games from 2 to 1.

• Feb. 2017: Received invitation to TCC
• Feb. 2017: Present my finding to the Board
• f Ed.

Timeline:

• May 2016: Mr. Voiles

gives the staff his future enrollment projections

• Fall 2016: Met with staff

to get feel for how the I-8 works for them

How’d we get here?

2000 – Enrollment 525: Sports teams had cuts 2016 – Enrollment 421: No cuts necessary and trouble fielding 3 levels of teams in some sports 2023 – Projected Enrollment 353: What then? Seneca has always had great participation numbers and we hope that continues, but there is still a finite number of bodies.

Seneca ‘s history in the Interstate 8 Conference

• 2004 – Present, the I-8 School’s enrollments have

expanded 300 – 900 (forcing Dwight to leave in 2013)

• In 2006, conference expanded to 12 teams

adding Westmont, Manteno, Peotone, and

• Herscher. In 2013, added Streator to replace
• Dwight. 4 of 5 schools added had enrollments
• ver 600
• Tradition – One of the

founding schools in 1979. (38 years of membership)

• 78 Varsity Sports

Conference Titles

• 1979 – 2004, the I-8

School’s enrollments were mainly 300-500 (few outliers – Yorkville first, then Sandwich)

Future of the Interstate 8 Conference

 Now, I-8 Conference looks to expand again by inviting schools of all sizes. To date only schools to show interest are 3 schools larger than Seneca.  So even with schools getting smaller, the future of this conference appears to be getting larger.  Smaller schools are being forced into difficult decisions  Preferred to be proactive to those decisions rather than reactive.

• Currently, 5 schools have

enrollments of 600 or above

• Most schools (except

Plano) are getting

• smaller. Some at a

higher rate than others

• Smaller schools have

discussed the future and all had concerns.

Future of Seneca High School

2023 Projected Enrollment 353

The Need to Be Proactive

(Now is the time for serious decisions)

 We have 2 conferences willing to accept us NOW  Conferences with quality schools and conferences with very proud traditions  Data suggests that we are the SMALLEST in the I-8 Conference, that does not appear to be changing in the future.  Change NOW may help us to maintain our outstanding participation from our students

Problems with being Reactive

(Waiting until 2023 when projected enrollment is 353)

 It could be too late, these conferences move on and will not need us when we need them  May not find a situation as good as the invitations we have right NOW  More years of competing against larger I-8 Schools that could limit our ability to remain competitive  Change LATER may be too late when it comes to maintaining student participation.

Other Conference Options

Tri-County Conference

 Average enrollment of these schools is just

• ver 200.

 Distance from Seneca HS on average is about 5.5 miles further than the travel in the Interstate 8  NO FOOTBALL  Seneca has been officially invited to join  Schools: Marquette, Woodland, Putnam County, DePue, Midland, Henry, Low Point – Washburn, Roanoke-Benson, and Peoria Christian.

Sangamon Valley Conference (Football Only)

 Average enrollment of these schools is just

• ver 300

 Distance from Seneca HS on average is about 18 miles further than the travel in the Interstate 8.  Travel on Friday night football is not as much a concern for educational purposes (not a school night) as it may be for parents  Seneca has been officially invited to join  Schools: Dwight, Clifton Central, Iroquois West, Momence, Watseka, and Paxton- Buckley-Loda

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Reasons to Remain in the I-8 Conference

 Tradition  Less Travel  Opponent’s schools have GREAT facilities  Does playing bigger schools make the teams better or more discouraged?  There are some activities that the NEW conferences would not offer

Reasons for Joining the NEW Conferences

 As the largest school (TCC) and one of the largest (SVC), allow us to remain competitive and makes for more positive experiences for our student/athletes.  Look at our neighbors and how it has impacted their sports

• programs. Not just in victories, as the numbers of students

participating has risen dramatically in those programs. (Dwight, Streator, Marquette FB)  Seneca HS enrollment fits better into the membership of these schools  Any activities that we currently are active in that are not

• ffered by these conferences, Seneca HS would do its best

to begin those activities at the conference level or regional level.

Now What?

 THE SENECA WAY Document created by Seneca HS Staff and Administration to guide the leaders of this school Preparing and Supporting ALL STUDENTS for success This document has created a culture of always doing what is best for the students of Seneca HS

• Host a Public Question & Answer

Forum to answer any questions individuals from the community may have. March 2, 2017 at 7:00PM in the Seneca HS Auditorium

• Community will be given the
• pportunity to complete a

survey on this matter to provide the board of education input.

• Board will re-visit this topic at

March meeting.

QUESTIONS