Some Siouxland schools petition to leave Lakes Conference; Spencer, Storm Lake schools respond

Iowa (KCAU) — Some schools are petitioning to leave the Lakes Conference, according to a joint statement from Storm Lake and Spencer schools.

Spirit Lake, Estherville Lincoln Central, and Cherokee community school districts are petitioning to leave the Lakes Conference, the statement reads.

Storm Lake and Spencer state that they are disappointed to hear the development and are searching for a solution.

The release states that the Lakes Conference currently consists of five member schools which has caused a significant impact in scheduling and competition for the schools.

One solution to these problems some Lakes Conference schools have looked into in recent years is consolidating with the Siouxland Conference, though the release states this has been unsuccessful.

You can read the full joint statement below.

This week, the Storm Lake Community School District and Spencer Community School Distict learned that the Spirit Lake, Estherville Lincoln Central, and Cherokee community school districts are petitioning to leave the Lakes Conference and join other conferences.

While we are disappointed by this development, we want to assure our students, families, and communities that we are committed to finding a solution that serves their best interests. Currently, the Lakes Conference has only five member schools, which has significantly impacted scheduling and competition for our schools.

In response to these challenges, we have been exploring potential solutions to address the evolving needs of our districts. This effort has been underway for several years. For example, in 2021, our conference reached out to the multiple northwest Iowa schools to invite them into our conference. Additionally, our member schools have sought to consolidate with the Siouxland Conference in recent years, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

We will continue to explore all available options to ensure that our students receive the opportunities they deserve. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this transition.

Statement from Storm Lake Community School District and Spencer Community School District

KCAU 9 has reached out to the schools that are allegedly petitioning to leave for comment and further confirmation.

“We have several reasons why a five-team conference is not viable. Everybody in our conference would agree to that. There’s no bad blood, there’s nothing like that. It’s just not the best opportunity and the best environment for the kids, which at the end of the day, it’s our job to provide those student-athletes with the best opportunities available.” Spirit Lake Athletic Director Rachel Fisher said.

“We are excited about the potential benefits of seeking a new conference,” Cherokee Superintendent Tom Ryherd said in a statement . “This transition could significantly enhance our athletes’ experiences, increase community engagement, and foster closer competition with schools that share our dedication to excellence. We believe this move will have a positive impact on our programs and our entire district.”

This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will continue to update this story as we learn more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.