Jewell to join Pike Valley football program

Jewell High School has signed a cooperative sports agreement with Pike Valley High School to play football at Pike Valley. The combination will make the program the largest in the 8-man division I classification according to the most recent figures. They would be at 100 students compared to Clifton-Clyde at 96, the former top of the classification. I thought having 100 students would require a move to 11-man, but evidently not. Jewell was really hurting for numbers last season.
I've also heard that the school will adopt a four-day week this fall and they've let a few teachers go and a few more have resigned.
Declining enrollment is hurting many small schools in rural Kansas and the Jewell situation is just another example.
According to a story in the Belleville Telescope, a motion was made at the recent Pike Valley school board meeting to stop consolidation talks with Republican County USD 109. The motion died for lack of a second.
I think everyone is being affected by population decline and nobody seems to like it - rightfully so.

News from west of us

I heard yesterday that long-time Linn High School volleyball coach and math teacher Pat Holsch will be the new head volleyball coach at Republic County High School this fall. I believe she has taught math there and in Cuba since leaving Linn.

Also of note, long-time North Central volleyball coach and music teacher and current Clifton-Clyde volleyball coach and music teacher Kirk Gallion has evidently taken a job as music and vocal teacher for Republic County and Pike Valley. He will teach either vocals or band at one school and then head to the other for the other subject. At this time, he will not be coaching anywhere.