Charles City Officially Files for Mediation to Join NCC
The Charles City School District has filed an official complaint with the State Board of Education to join the North Central Conference (NCC).
The Comets are currently in the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC), but will likely dissolve after the 2024-25 school year, with fellow NEIC members New Hampton, Waukon and Cresco-Crestwood moving into the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) starting with the 25-26 school year. Plus, Waverly-Shell Rock departs the NEIC at the end of this school year.
That has left Charles City, as well as Decorah, looking for new conference homes.
In March, Charles City’s bid to join the NCC was denied despite an 8-2 vote in favor of bringing the Comets on board. However, NCC bylaws allow for denial of an application if more than one member school votes against it.
Last month, Charles City Activities Director Dana Sullivan received the go-ahead from the School Board to file for mediation with the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) to get Charles City into the NCC.
Tuesday (05.07), Sullivan officially filed Charles City’s “letter of concern” with the DOE, which has 10 days to reply to and/or acknowledge the Comets’ request for mediation.
In her letter, Sullivan notes that Charles City already competes against a number of NCC teams in various sports and hopes that they can find a resolution to confirm Charles City is well-suited for the NCC, which consists of Fort Dodge St. Edmunds, Clarion-Goldfied-Dows, Clear Lake, Algona, Hampton-Dumont-Cal, Humboldt, Webster City and Iowa Falls-Alden.
Fort Dodge St. Edmunds and Clarion-Goldfied-Dows voted against Charles City in March, citing concerns over travel distance.
The average distance from Charles City to the other NCC schools is 83 miles, with Clear Lake being the shortest at 46 miles and the longest trek of 125 miles to Fort Dodge.
