MONROE - Monroe High School's boys hockey co-op is dropping four school districts and adding three more in its next two-year agreement.
Eight districts are in the current co-op agreement, which expires after the 2016-17 season. The next agreement, approved by the Monroe school board Monday, consists of Monroe, Argyle, Darlington, New Glarus, and the Illinois school districts of Orangeville, Warren and Dakota.
Districts in the current co-op that aren't included in the next one are Albany, Belleville, Freeport and Freeport Aquin, according to MHS Activities Director Jeff Newcomer.
He said some of the districts didn't get back to him with confirmed participants so he left them off the list. Board president Bob Erb expressed concern about the new agreement possibly "pulling the rug out from under" students in those districts who might be expecting to join the team next year.
But districts could still be added to the co-op as an amendment, Newcomer said. If the agreement needs to be amended, the board would be asked to approve it at its next meeting Feb. 13.
No students currently playing on the hockey team will be left off next year as a result of the changes, Newcomer said.
About 33 students are expected to be on the team next year. That's enough participants to warrant some junior varsity games, but Newcomer said he didn't expect to have a full JV schedule or coach. Board member Brian Keith said he thinks a JV team should be added because it would give more kids the opportunity to play.
Several members of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association attended the meeting Monday and answered questions from the school board.
Eight districts are in the current co-op agreement, which expires after the 2016-17 season. The next agreement, approved by the Monroe school board Monday, consists of Monroe, Argyle, Darlington, New Glarus, and the Illinois school districts of Orangeville, Warren and Dakota.
Districts in the current co-op that aren't included in the next one are Albany, Belleville, Freeport and Freeport Aquin, according to MHS Activities Director Jeff Newcomer.
He said some of the districts didn't get back to him with confirmed participants so he left them off the list. Board president Bob Erb expressed concern about the new agreement possibly "pulling the rug out from under" students in those districts who might be expecting to join the team next year.
But districts could still be added to the co-op as an amendment, Newcomer said. If the agreement needs to be amended, the board would be asked to approve it at its next meeting Feb. 13.
No students currently playing on the hockey team will be left off next year as a result of the changes, Newcomer said.
About 33 students are expected to be on the team next year. That's enough participants to warrant some junior varsity games, but Newcomer said he didn't expect to have a full JV schedule or coach. Board member Brian Keith said he thinks a JV team should be added because it would give more kids the opportunity to play.
Several members of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association attended the meeting Monday and answered questions from the school board.