Lewis Central Board Holds Listening Session on Conference Realignment; Community Divided

Lewis Central administrators and coaches briefed the school board and took public comment July 21 on whether the district should pursue membership in the Missouri River Conference or remain in the Hawkeye 10, but board members took no vote.

The discussion matters because a change would alter conference scheduling, travel demands and postseason preparation for multiple sports, and the district has received a formal invitation from the Missouri River Conference for the 2026–27 school year.

District athletics staff presented enrollment, classification and travel comparisons for the two conferences, and shared results of an online survey sent to coaches, families and students. The presentation said about 48 percent of respondents favored the Missouri River Conference, 31 percent favored staying in the Hawkeye 10 and about 22 percent had no strong opinion. The district also distributed detailed tables comparing classifications, average drive times and sport-by-sport scheduling effects.

“Shenandoah is leaving, for sure, and going to the Western Iowa Conference,” the district athletics presenter said, describing recent conference movement and invitations that prompted Hawkeye 10 schools to explore…