Baxter/Collins-Maxwell

[Herdcyclones]

Intentionally backwards in the title. I see that the Baxter school board voted 5-0 to end their athletic sharing with Collins-Maxwell effective the end of the 2017 Softball/Baseball season. How long have they been together, 20 some years?

In regards to football, this is certainly interesting as that is in the middle of the 2 year districting. My understanding, and I ask here if anybody knows different, is that Baxter is the official school when it comes to football, and Collins-Maxwell shares with them. So in the fall of 2017, it will be Baxter vs the rest of their 2A district. Since they will lose about 1/2 the team, and basically be what, a small 1A? That certainly may get ugly.

As for the Collins-Maxwell kids that want to play football, doesn't this pretty much screw them over? The districts are made up, so they can't have Collins-Maxwell football next fall. If they open enrolled out, they would be limited to JV action only. And if they stayed put, I guess they just might have to run cross country. Anybody see anything different?

 

[PNation]

Baxter is at 106 and CM at 110 so both could play 8 man, I really don't understand why they are splitting up, seems stupid to me.

 

[SSG T]

Intentionally backwards in the title. I see that the Baxter school board voted 5-0 to end their athletic sharing with Collins-Maxwell effective the end of the 2017 Softball/Baseball season. How long have they been together, 20 some years?

In regards to football, this is certainly interesting as that is in the middle of the 2 year districting. My understanding, and I ask here if anybody knows different, is that Baxter is the official school when it comes to football, and Collins-Maxwell shares with them. So in the fall of 2017, it will be Baxter vs the rest of their 2A district. Since they will lose about 1/2 the team, and basically be what, a small 1A? That certainly may get ugly.

As for the Collins-Maxwell kids that want to play football, doesn't this pretty much screw them over? The districts are made up, so they can't have Collins-Maxwell football next fall. If they open enrolled out, they would be limited to JV action only. And if they stayed put, I guess they just might have to run cross country. Anybody see anything different?

There's a lot of screwing to go around. And it's really too long to go into too much here. But, it goes back to this, they should have consolidated long, long ago and didn't. At this point, while I don't like or agree with the decision, I understand why Baxter did it. They've been getting the run around from C-M for the better part of two years now. I think they just got sick of it.

Full disclosure, I live in the C-M district but my kids go to Baxter. There are a lot of reasons for that, but a big part is the "environment" in the C-M side. A lot of issues there. Unfortunately, they are to the point that they can't survive on their own much longer. I'd give them 3-5 years (max) before the either consolidate with someone or are dissolved.

 

[SSG T]

Baxter is at 106 and CM at 110 so both could play 8 man, I really don't understand why they are splitting up, seems stupid to me.

It is stupid. Based on participation numbers, Baxter is in far better shape for all sports, but neither are in great shape. My guess is that Colfax-Mingo and Baxter eventually hook up and Collins-Maxwell ends up in the Ballard district, likely within the next 3 years.

 

[WSC72]

When a "community" loses their high school they are eligible immediately at the school of their choice. Now that is what happens when schools BEGIN sharing. Not sure if the same rule applies in the case of a dissolution.

 

[Herdcyclones]

There's a lot of screwing to go around.

When I said "screwing", I'm not intending any slights to anyone. I have no dog in the fight. I get the break at the end of the school year. But I would think they could have made it effective at the end of the 2017 football season. Then they could split and played basketball and wrestle under their Baxter and C-M banners. But I'm sure there is plenty of stuff going on to make the break as soon as possible. (and I'm not fishing for info, I'm close enough, I've heard the stories)

Nobody wants to lose a high school. It's happened in dozens of towns across Iowa. I think it helps when there is an obvious high school to go to, due to one town being substantially larger. While I'm sure there were issues back in 1969 in the merger, Roland and Story City get along quite nicely now. Story City is about 3 times larger than Roland, it's pretty obvious the high school should be in Story City.

When Collins-Maxwell and Baxter are 10 students apart in size on the BEDS count, each have a strong case for a high school. (discounting other issues that may be going on).