Hall board approves T-C invite

SPRING VALLEY — It’s official, the Hall Red Devils have another new conference to call home.

The Hall school board of education approved, on Wednesday evening, to join the Tri-County Conference beginning the school year of 2011-12. Hall had been accepted by the Tri-County May 5.

Hall will play all sports in the Tri-County, except football, a sport in which the only participating schools (the Midland/Henry, Lowpoint-Washburn co-op plays independently). Hall struck out on attempts to join the Interstate-8 and Three Rivers conferences, but previously approved joining the West Central Conference for football only.

Hall athletic director Gary Barerra told the BCR enrollments of the other Tri-County schools and travel distances as the key factors for Hall’s search for a replacement for the NCIC Lincoln, which is in a spiraling decline.

The Spring Valley school will become the largest of 10th schools in the Tri-County by actual enrollment of 443. Peoria Christian stands at 514.8 students with the IHSA multiplier while Putnam County (275) is the largest of current members in actual enrollment. DePue is the smallest school at 70 students.

Other members include Henry-Senachwine (211), Lowpoint-Washburn (146), Midland (274), Ottawa Marquette (328.35 with a multiplier), Roanoke-Benson (172) and Streator Woodland (140).

With Kewanee’s departure and St. Bede’s arrival from the Tri-County, the NCIC Lincoln will remain at six schools next fall. However, with Hall’s and Rock Falls’ (Big Northern) departures in 2011-12, the NCIC would be down to four schools with Chillicothe IVC, St. Bede, Princeton and Mendota, with the latter two being linked to the Big Northern.

Big Northern officials previously told the BCR they would be taking a vote on expansion Thursday, including Princeton and Mendota. PHS superintendent Kirk Haring said PHS had stopped further discussions with the Big Northern and there has been no new developments on its end.

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