MONROE — Monroe High School has requested the WIAA switches the Cheesemakers full-time to the Rock Valley Conference across all available sports beginning with the 2023-24 school year. On Dec. 7, the WIAA Conference Realignment Task Force reviewed Monroe’s proposal, which was submitted alongside Delavan-Darien, and passed it by a unanimous 15-0 vote. 

Other schools impacted by the proposal will need to submit feedback by early January. The Task Force will finalize and submit all state-wide proposals on March 8, 2022, according to the WIAA, in a Dec. 8 press release. 

There were seven realignment proposals submitted, with only two passed.

“We began the process this past Fall. We submitted two proposals. The initial deadline was Oct. 15. I then had until Nov. 1 to gather feedback and notes from conferences and schools involved,” Monroe Athletic Director Jeff Newcomer said.

The move for Monroe would not be completely new. As a part of the WIAA’s state-wide football realignment that went live for 2020-21, Monroe and Madison Edgewood moved to the Rock Valley for football.

Should the current change occur, Monroe would play in the Rock Valley for all but just three sports. Boys and girls hockey, and girls swimming would remain in the Badger, as the Rock Valley does not currently sponsor those sports.

The Monroe/Delavan-Darien proposal modifies the existing Badger, Big 8, Southern Lakes and Rock Valley conferences.

In the proposal: 

●  Monroe moves from the Badger to the Rock

●  McFarland moves from the Rock to the Badger

●  Delavan-Darien moves from the Southern Lakes to the Rock

●  Beloit Memorial moves from the Big 8 to the Southern Lakes

Since 2015, McFarland has had a higher enrollment than Monroe for all but one year (2017). In 2003, Monroe’s enrollment was over 900 students in the high school, while McFarland was at 639. This academic school year, McFarland has 763 students enrolled (+% from 2003), while Monroe has 717 (-% from 2003).

“Enrollment projections have Monroe sliding fast,” Newcomer said. By 2023-24, the numbers dip to about 680, then falling to 629 by 2027-28. “At these numbers, it will get even harder to compete in Badger.”

McFarland was previously a member of the Badger Conference, moving to the Rock in 2009 as a part of a larger conference realignment that saw the Badger South lose two teams while bringing in two more. Verona moved to the Big 8 that year, while Milton and Fort Atkinson moved to the Badger South. Since that time, the Badger has expanded, adding Watertown and Beaver Dam to the mix as well.

Similar to Monroe, Delavan-Darien has a continued shrinking enrollment over the past decade. D-D’s enrollment in 2003 was 954, but by 2011 it was down to 800. The school has 706 enrolled this year, up slightly from 701 in the 2020-21 school year.

Beloit Memorial has shown interest in leaving the Big 8 in recent years, and with Sun Prairie splitting into two high schools for the 2022-23 school year, both would occupy a spot in the Big 8, nullifying a need to fille Beloit’s absence. 

Travel did not play a factor into Monroe’s decision to propose the move. 

“Travel will be similar, simply traveling in a different direction,” Newcomer said, with Rock Valley schools more east compared to the northern direction of Badger schools. 

“The biggest factor for us was competitive equity. Competitive equity entails several factors,” Newcomer said. “Not only is Monroe’s enrollment equitable to the RVC as proposed — the Monroe community and demographics are far more in line with the RVC communities than the communities in the Badger Conference. The demographics of a community and the resources that community or neighboring communities can offer play a huge part in a high school program.”

Other Task Force Realignment …

●  Advanced a plan that combines and modifies proposals from Kingdom Prep Lutheran and Watertown Luther Prep, which impacts schools from the existing Midwest Classic and Capitol conferences. The plan, advanced by a 12-3 vote, would add Kingdom Prep Lutheran to the Midwest Classic Conference and moves Watertown Luther Prep to the Midwest Classic Conference from the Capitol Conference.

●  Did not advance plans submitted by Ripon, Berlin, Assumption and St. Mary Catholic. These schools may appeal the decision to the Task Force at the regular meeting on Jan. 13.

●  The Ripon and Berlin plans to move those schools from the East Central Conference to the South Central Conference was voted down 1-14. The rationale for the action taken by the Task Force was the absence of feedback included in the proposal from a large group of impacted schools. Additional feedback from conferences and schools impacted by the plan is encouraged.

●  The Assumption plan to move from the Marawood Conference to the Central Wisconsin Conference did not advance by virtue of a 0-15 vote of the Task Force. Rationale provided included a lack of support from either conference and all schools currently having a conference affiliation.

●  A St. Mary Catholic plan to move from the Big East Conference to the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large for all sports except football and girls soccer was not advanced by a 0-15 vote. The rationale for the vote of the Task Force included a lack of support from either conference and all schools involved currently having a conference affiliation.

●  In addition, the St. Mary Catholic girls soccer-only plan to move from the Big East Conference to Wisconsin Flyway Conference also was not advanced by a 0-15 vote by the Task Force. The rationale for lack of support was the school’s position it did not want to pursue the plan if all-sport, non-football plan did not advance.

All schools affected by the realignment solutions the Conference Realignment Task Force modified may provide written feedback or appear virtually at the Task Force meeting Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at 9 a.m. Requests to appear to provide additional information must be emailed to Executive Director Stephanie Hauser at shauser@wiaawi.org by noon on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.

Each school appearing virtually at the Jan. 3 meeting will be provided a maximum of three minutes to present new information to the Task Force. Schools in the same conference are asked to designate one spokesperson who will represent all schools. The time afforded to this spokesperson will be extended to five minutes.  

The Conference Realignment Task Force will reconvene in person Thursday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. Member schools that had their realignment application not advanced may elect to appeal this decision no later than noon Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Requests to appeal must be submitted in writing to Hauser at shauser@wiaawi.org. A school may appeal by having a representative appear at the WIAA office or appear virtually. Each school will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present new information to the Task Force.  

Any schools impacted by a proposed realignment solution may provide written feedback or appear in person or virtually Thursday, Jan. 13. Additional information and requests to appear must be emailed to Hauser at shauser@wiaawi.org by noon Monday, Jan. 10. Each school appearing virtually will be provided a maximum of three minutes to present new information to the Task Force. Schools in the same conference are asked to designate one spokesperson who will represent all schools. The time afforded to this spokesperson will be expanded to five minutes.  

The Task Force will finalize and submit proposals for the March 8, 2022, Board of Control meeting following the Jan. 13 Conference Realignment Task Force meeting.

Modified plans created during the Task Force consideration are found on WIAA Conference Realignment webpage. Original proposals submitted are also available on the WIAA “Conference Realignment” webpage under “Requests and Proposals.” The full conference realignment process and timeline can be found on the WIAA webpage by accessing the “Conference Realignment” option in the “Schools” megamenu.