Correct. Played 2 years at North. North was a good team when she was a Fr. Close to state. But they are a lot like Roosevelt. Had a few good kids but no depth at lower levels, now they are struggling like the rest of the metros.
Iowa High School BEDS count 24-25
- Thread starter qwerty
- Start date
Our district chose to “dissolve” a few years ago. The landowners determine which adjoining school district they wish to be placed in order for their property taxes to be sent to that district. The only rule that is in play is that there has to be an unbroken connected land path to the adjacent chosen district. The final district lines are approved by the AEA. In this case, there were five adjoining districts, decisions were based on location, lowest property taxes, academic standards, old rivalries and petty grievances. That’s why the AEA and State want nothing to do with setting the lines.
It is always interesting to see the district boundaries that were set after reorganization in the late 50s and early 60s. Crazy boundaries. Probably because of petty grievances and farmers wanting their kids to play sports in a particular district. You definitely could tell the state didn’t come up with some of those boundaries only approved them:
The two primary issues that determined where the land owner wanted their property placed were location and property taxes. If it was a property that a farm family owned and lived on or was owned by heirs that had grown up on the property, it went to the district with the school closest to the property. If the property was owned by an off site investor or heirs that had no emotional ties to the property it might be placed in the district with the lowest school tax due to any recent bonding for new buildings. Due to open enrollment in Iowa, any parent wanting to send a child to a better sports opportunity can do this very easily so that is not as concerning as the permanent placement affecting drive time and taxes.
What I have found I dont believe that the process has changed much since that reorganization in the 50s-60s. And what was said about it from @swiacy it sounds like it is very similar to that reorganization and very much a mess when it happens.
Its a much easier transition when districts merge, which is why in most cases I think that is what is attempted if at all possible. Even then you will always have some not happy especially toward the boundaries that will open enroll out.
I think when a consolidation occurs, the people on the edge who want to have their land base moved to a different district, if it doesn’t make an island piece, should have the option. My farms are closer to the school I graduated from but the taxes go to a different district. A lot of the people around me open enrolled their kids asap to the one I graduated from when the original school consolidated with one 11 miles further away.
Another point is that when a district mergers with a neighboring district, some of the jobs are going to be absorbed into the new district. When it disbands like O-M is doing, all the jobs go out the window. Losing those jobs hurts a small town, which has already been hurt by losing the school district, which in many small town is a major employer in the town.
Looks like Ames will be the largest school in the new conference, with a BEDS of 1106, then Indianola with a BEDS of 878.
You have to think Urbandale reconsiders, maybe after the school board election this fall.
And if that isn’t bad enough, school buildings are knocked down 5 minutes after the vote to join bigger districts. Even if business wanted to buy and use the building.
Not sure about that, many of these older building are full of asbestos that has been incapacitated to keep them safe and many new owners do not want to mess with it and the costs of cleaning it up. To tear it down they have to get rid of the asbestos first, but if they leave them sitting, they are fine, at least for awhile. Lot of abandoned school building in a lot of these small rural towns.
Um, I don't think Waverly is going to get an invite from a conference made up of inner city schools.
I don't see why the Alliance would need to add any more. With Waterloo East being gone, Ames being gone, they can just go no divisions and have the 5 Metros, Marshalltown, FD, Ottumwa and Mason City. Though Mason City is one heck of a geographic outlier. Even if they found a different home the Alliance would have 8 teams. Seems like that's enough for a conference.
I would've liked the Ames to LHC move happen next year when my youngest is still in school, but no matter. It doesn't really matter that much in a lot of the sports. There are enough non-con to get a good variety of competition. I still see Urbandale as Ames' closest peer school in athletics, so I would've like to see the two competing together in a conference.
Waverly is a different story on that. This also isn't the only time they've been accused of similar things.
After racist treatment of Black baseball player, Charles City wants 1-year break from games vs. Waverly-Shell Rock
Charles City cited a pattern of unsportsmanlike behavior among Waverly-Shell Rock fans, including last month's incident in which a Black Charles City baseball player was racially taunted.
www.desmoinesregister.com
That might be the best option to get rid of a building. The old high school in Bloomfield sits there, they have been talking about tearing it down since they built the new one, going on 10 years now. They still use parts of it, but the main structure is as far as I know, completely empty. Many in the town would keep it there as a reminder of better days if they had their way. Have to say it would be a great parking lot for football games.
