Key Highlights
- And on Monday, the Pella Board of Education voted unanimously to join the new league, and could be members as early as 2026-27. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Pella never sought to leave the (conference), and we have loved our time in the LHC, but just like many other schools (in our league) have done recently, when an invitation occurs, you have to look into it," Pella Activities Director Matt Fouch said.
- "We felt like the long-term stability of the RRC for Class 3A/4A schools was a big factor."Little Hawkeye Conference logoThe Little Hawkeye Conference currently consists of Newton, Pella, Pella Christian, Oskaloosa, Dallas Center-Grimes, Norwalk and Indianola and Des Moines Christian and Ames will join the league starting in 2025-26. The Raccoon River Conference, the league in which Pella voted to join, includes ADM, Carlisle, Bondurant-Farrar, Winterset, Boone, Ballard, Gilbert, North Polk and Carroll. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCarroll is leaving the RRC after this school year, which created an opportunity for expansion. The league also extended an invitation to Van Meter, and it accepted at a recent board meeting, too, according to a report by KMALand radio."I think everyone was really taken off guard by their decision," Newton Activities Director Ryan Rump said.
- "Pella has been one of the longest standing members of our league and was at the forefront of our expansion efforts over the past year so a pivot to leave the conference certainly was not on anyone's radar."That being said, each school district has to make decisions that are in the best interests of their community and stakeholders and I think we all respect that.
- It is disappointing to see Pella exit our league, but the reality is these types of things happen from time to time and we will work through it the best we can."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere are a few more steps that have to take place before Pella is officially introduced into its new league. The Raccoon River Conference is still in the process of approving the Dutch.
- When that happens, the superintendents inside the LHC will vote to decide when to let Pella exit the conference. Cooper LenzThe move also would have to be approved by a newly required state committee.
