Discussions continue whether or not to allow two additional schools to join the West Central Conference.

Panorama Superintendent Shawn Holloway says the School Board talked about the possibility of adding Interstate-35 and Pleasantville to the ten-member conference for athletics. At the Board’s meeting in December, Activities Director Erin Ambrose shared the formal request from both schools and discussed overall general information and mileage information for Panorama if the schools were approved. Holloway says it could mean more traveling for Panorama and with the idea of splitting the conference into two divisions, the Panthers might lose a rivalry game, depending on where the conference’s boundary line is drawing.

“For example, we might play West Central Valley one time versus two times. So I know for some of our people that would be a negative. And those things aren’t set in stone by any means.”

Holloway believes that a majority of the school districts are in favor of the move, especially when considering districts across Iowa are constantly changing student population.

“The landscape across Iowa, as schools continue to decline in enrollment, or increase, I think the conference overall likes the idea of being a 12-member conference versus a ten-member conference.”

The Panorama School Board is expected to take a vote on the proposal at their January meeting.