[2 time all-ohio]

With Johnstown, Utica and Northridge all having interest in joining or listening to inquireies for the old Licking Valley League and the MOAC possible expansion with Dannviile, Fredericktown, East Knox and Centerburg looking to join. The only team that is not pursuing another conference is Loudonville. Will the league survive if 2-3 teams leave? What if any conference would Loudonville look to join or would they have to go independant again like they were through the mid to late 80's?

[BigTenBuckeye]

If Loudonville gets into another league, they're gonna have to travel. The Inter-Valley Conference, Firelands Conference, North Central Conference, and the Wayne County Athletic League are close in size and somewhat nearby, but they don't seem like geographic fits for them.

I think the NCC is pretty much done expanding (maybe) and I don't know if the other leagues are interested in expansion regardless. I'm sure schools like Hillsdale, Lucas, Mapleton, and West Holmes might appreciate them for league games, but probably not their league-mates on the opposite end of league territory. I have to imagine Loudonville would make a push to be included in the expanded MOAC though.

[2 time all-ohio]

I'm not sure about the MOAC....maybe if they are in a certain divission. If not the travel would be more than they already have. I think Wayne county would be a good fit as far as competitive balnce. They play many teams in non-league games from that league already but as you stated I'm doubtful if they or any league is looking to expand that would be a good fit for Loudonville. I don't think Loudonville has the ability anymore to play sports as a independant except in softball year in and year out.

[hardscrabble]

If Northridge would decide to stay in the Mid-Buckeye with the Loudonville, Centerburg, East Knox, Danville, and Frederictown, the addition of Highland and Northmor would make quite a competitive 8 team conference. Leaving the MOAC with a convenient 8 school league as well. Northridge, Highland, and Northmor would have to schedule their old rivals as non league games.

If Licking Heights decides to stay in the mid State League a very competitive Ohio Division coul,d be formed with Licking Heights, Whitehall, Columbus Academy, Grandview, West Jefferson, Jonathon Alder, Bexley and Fairbanks.

[Hank_Hill]

Licking Heights to Fairbanks is a HAUL.

[Weiskittle]

I think Fairbanks olny wants to leave for the MOAC. I think with the 3 teams added to the NWCC they don't feel as gunhoe on finding another conference

[2 time all-ohio]

Highland and Northmor would be nice additions to the MBC. Haven't thought of the MBC adding teams as it sounded like everyone was looking to leave.

[kpop223]

In my opinion, Loudonville Ohio from the MBC conference should go join into something like the WCAL because with less sporting trip vehicle time and more well known good rivals like Hillsdale. Rumors have it that we will move to the OCC
but we will be outnumbered by other schools by far.

[lmavcch3]

I hope Loudonville stays with the remaining MBC teams. If the MOAC chooses not to expand, I think you'll see teams leaving that conference and joining the teams left in the MBC to form a new/different league.

[2 time all-ohio]

Loudonville obviously needs to be inquiring with other conferences about expansion or openings. If EK, Fredericktown, Centerburg and Danville decide to stay I would see no reason why Loudonville would want to leave. Those schools are all the closest in the conference plus they've built up some rivalaries with them. On top of that they have a long tradition with Fredericktown that dates back before joing the MBC. Would Highlan consider a move to the MBC or would they consider that a strp backwords? If the MBC was desolved I could see Loudonville looking to thew WCL as mentioned above. Good fit and already play many of the schools in various non-league contest currently.

[BigTenBuckeye]

That's why I think Loudonville's first plan will be to try and get the Knox Co. schools to stay put. They'd be the closest in size and destination (most ideal) for league-mates, and maybe they could find someone else to be a 6th for the league. If not, maybe they could find someone else to partner up with and convince a conference they would be better with 2 more members. I still don't think anyone around them wants to expand, but ya never know. Wouldn't hurt them to try.

[lmavcch3]

From what I hear, Highland is one of the schools that wants to be in a league with the Knox county schools. Northmor and Cardington, I think are on the same page as Highland. I think they would be a great fit in the MBC.

[hardscrabble]

If Northridge chooses to stay in the MBC, the MBC could survive as a 6 team league or it could seek new members from Lucas, Millersport, Northmor, Highland, Cardington and/or Mount Gilead.

[lmavcch3]

Millersport is not a possibility. Lucas, not sure is either. The others are definitely in play.

[hardscrabble]

Northridge should vote to stay in the Mid-Buckeye Conference. They are a better fit there and have been a loyal member for 25 years. The remaining six members: Loudonville, Northridge, Centerburg, Fredericktown, Danville, and East Knox standing together can still be a nice conference and become a very viable option for other schools to join with them.

As an aside....Northridge has never been the most progressive community toward its schools and for the education of its children. This has been reflected in the lack of success for its athletic teams in the last few years .

The Northridge consolidation decision (I know! I know! its been 50 years) has always been a troubling one to me and it has proven to be just that. The three communities are still very separate communities in personality and voting patterns. The Hartford community is a satellite of Johnstown and Homer much the same with Utica. Alexandria is a much more stand alone community and independent in thinking and progressive in thought, as far as education is concerned. Alexandria, St. Albans Twp. and Liberty Township have to carry a ballot issue 2 to 1 for anything to pass. Have Hartford Township, Hartford Village, Burlington Twp., Homer Village, Bennington Twp. and the Knox County portion of the district ever had a vote tally of 50% or more for any issue?

Alexandria was in the Southwest Licking Consolidation discussions of 1955 and my understanding was the land on Route 16 at Outville Road was purchased or near purchased when the consolidation plan fell apart (Something about all those school busses traveling north daily over those railroad tracks!).

Alexandria High School was large enough and in no danger of losing its charter as high school (Unlike Hartford and Homer) in 1960. I, personally, rue the day the decision was made to form the Northridge district. Alexandria and a Bennington-Liberty merger would have made for a strong progressive coalition and would certainly be larger than Danville, Ridgedale, Berne Union, Millersport are today. I would love to see the old Alexandria and Bennington-Liberty attendance districts vote to break away and establish their own district. The Hartford's old attendance district could merge with Johnstown or Centerburg or divide betwen the two. Homer's old attendance district could merge with the North Fork district. Voter's in those old attendance districts are not only just conservative, but they are very reactionary in their views for funding education.

In 1960
Alexandria: Enrollment: Grades 7-12; (167 Students 22) Graduates Consolidated into Northridge
Croton, Hartford Twp.: Enrollment: Grades 7-12; 111 (14 Graduates) Consolidated into Northridge
Homer, Burlington Grades 7-12; 104 (10 Graduates) Consolidated into Northridge

Alexandria Elementary enrollment K-5 or the future 7-12.
Total 310 students
Kind. - 41 students
Grade 1 - 53 students
Grade 2 - 45 students
Grade 3 - 53 students
Grade 4 - 51 students
Grade 5 - 64 students

A future Alexandria only high school would have an enrollment of 213 more or less.
Grade 9 - 45 students
Grade 10 - 53 students
Grade 11 - 51 students
Grade 12 - 64 students

Not only should the LCL be resurrected, but the Alexandria/Bennington-Liberty old attendance districts should go it alone. (Remember that half of Liberty Township was in the old Alexandria attendance district.)

Thanks everyone for sharing great information.

[BPM]

Originally Posted by hardscrabble

Northridge should vote to stay in the Mid-Buckeye Conference. They are a better fit there and have been a loyal member for 25 years. The remaining six members: Loudonville, Northridge, Centerburg, Fredericktown, Danville, and East Knox standing together can still be a nice conference and become a very viable option for other schools to join with them.

As an aside....Northridge has never been the most progressive community toward its schools and for the education of its children. This has been reflected in the lack of success for its athletic teams in the last few years .

The Northridge consolidation decision (I know! I know! its been 50 years) has always been a troubling one to me and it has proven to be just that. The three communities are still very separate communities in personality and voting patterns. The Hartford community is a satellite of Johnstown and Homer much the same with Utica. Alexandria is a much more stand alone community and independent in thinking and progressive in thought, as far as education is concerned. Alexandria, St. Albans Twp. and Liberty Township have to carry a ballot issue 2 to 1 for anything to pass. Have Hartford Township, Hartford Village, Burlington Twp., Homer Village, Bennington Twp. and the Knox County portion of the district ever had a vote tally of 50% or more for any issue?

Alexandria was in the Southwest Licking Consolidation discussions of 1955 and my understanding was the land on Route 16 at Outville Road was purchased or near purchased when the consolidation plan fell apart (Something about all those school busses traveling north daily over those railroad tracks!).

Alexandria High School was large enough and in no danger of losing its charter as high school (Unlike Hartford and Homer) in 1960. I, personally, rue the day the decision was made to form the Northridge district. Alexandria and a Bennington-Liberty merger would have made for a strong progressive coalition and would certainly be larger than Danville, Ridgedale, Berne Union, Millersport are today. I would love to see the old Alexandria and Bennington-Liberty attendance districts vote to break away and establish their own district. The Hartford's old attendance district could merge with Johnstown or Centerburg or divide betwen the two. Homer's old attendance district could merge with the North Fork district. Voter's in those old attendance districts are not only just conservative, but they are very reactionary in their views for funding education.

In 1960
Alexandria: Enrollment: Grades 7-12; (167 Students 22) Graduates Consolidated into Northridge
Croton, Hartford Twp.: Enrollment: Grades 7-12; 111 (14 Graduates) Consolidated into Northridge
Homer, Burlington Grades 7-12; 104 (10 Graduates) Consolidated into Northridge

Alexandria Elementary enrollment K-5 or the future 7-12.
Total 310 students
Kind. - 41 students
Grade 1 - 53 students
Grade 2 - 45 students
Grade 3 - 53 students
Grade 4 - 51 students
Grade 5 - 64 students

A future Alexandria only high school would have an enrollment of 213 more or less.
Grade 9 - 45 students
Grade 10 - 53 students
Grade 11 - 51 students
Grade 12 - 64 students

Not only should the LCL be resurrected, but the Alexandria/Bennington-Liberty old attendance districts should go it alone. (Remember that half of Liberty Township was in the old Alexandria attendance district.)

Very intersting post and some great information. But to your points on the Hartford area -- why would any other district want to annex them if their voting record is so poor when it comes to school support?

[hardscrabble]

" But to your points on the Hartford area -- why would any other district want to annex them if their voting record is so poor when it comes to school support? "
As you might be aware, everytime Groveport-Madison Schools, South-Western Schools and other suburban districts around Columbus fail to pass school levies numerous times; they are threatened with a possible State Department of Education ruling to dissolve the district. The students would then be sent to neighboring school districts including Columbus Public Schools. The prededent has been set in other communties where the State Department can transfer students to other districts by forcing annexed attendance area to those districts.

Any kind of break up of the Northridge District would have to get the approval of the State Department of Education and where the students would be allowed to attend shcool would be determined by that agency. Bloomville High School in Seneca County was absorbed by the Tiffin School District sometime in the 1960's. In the late 1990's because of bascally negative experiences within the Tiffin City District so discouraged the Bloomvlle community that it requested a transfer of the old Bloomville attendance district to the Buckeye Central District in Crawford County and that request was approved by the State Board of Education.

So to answer your question, I don't think Johnstown or Centerburg would be pleased to accept students from such a negative community as Hartford/Croton, but I doubt the State Board of Education would take that into consideration in reassigning students.

[Hank_Hill]

Originally Posted by hardscrabble

" But to your points on the Hartford area -- why would any other district want to annex them if their voting record is so poor when it comes to school support? "
As you might be aware, everytime Groveport-Madison Schools, South-Western Schools and other suburban districts around Columbus fail to pass school levies numerous times; they are threatened with a possible State Department of Education ruling to dissolve the district. The students would then be sent to neighboring school districts including Columbus Public Schools. The prededent has been set in other communties where the State Department can transfer students to other districts by forcing annexed attendance area to those districts.

Any kind of break up of the Northridge District would have to get the approval of the State Department of Education and where the students would be allowed to attend shcool would be determined by that agency. Bloomville High School in Seneca County entered into the Seneca East consolidation with the Attica School District and the Scipio-Republic School District sometime in the 1960's. In the late 1990's because of the other communities bascally negative support of the Seneca East discouraged the Bloomvlle cummity to request a transfer of the old Bloomville attendance district to the Buckeye Central District in Crawford County and that request was approved by the State Board of Education.

So to answer your question, I don't think Johnstown or Centerburg would be pleased to accept students from such a negative community as Hartford/Croton, but I doubt the State Board of Education would take that into consideration in reassigning students.

Actually, Bloomville elementary kids were sent to Tiffin and now attend Buckeye Central Schools.

[hardscrabble]

I stand corrected. The Boomville attendance district was absorbed by the Tiffin School District and not Seneca East. The Bloomville Elementary remained open within the Tiffin SD. So, the State Board of Education transferred students living in the old Bloomville attendance district (all students K-12) to the Buckeye Central SD and the Bloomville Elementary Building went with the transfer.