URBANDALE, Iowa — The Urbandale Community School District has released results from a survey asking for parents, students, and coaches to share their opinions on leaving the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League).

Urbandale is currently the smallest school by enrollment in the CIML. Facing schools like West Des Moines Valley and Southeast Polk, some coaches feel that leaving the CIML would give their athletes a better chance at winning games and conference championships. Others want to continue competing against the best of the best.

Members of the Urbandale School Board are considering joining the Little Hawkeye Conference, which includes Dallas-Center Grimes, Indianola, Norwalk, and others.

Before making the decision a survey was sent out to parents, students, and staff asking for their opinion on the move. The results were released on Thursday.

A total of 551 people responded to the survey and the majority of them chose to leave the CIML, with 343 voting to leave and 208 voting to remain. Below is a breakdown of the survey results:

• 293 respondents were parents/guardians. 224 voted to leave, 69 voted to remain.
• 194 respondents were students. 90 voted to leave, 104 voted to remain.
• 41 respondents were coaches. 14 voted to leave, 27 voted to remain.
• 23 respondents were staff. 15 voted to leave, 8 voted to remain.

The school board will decide whether or not to leave the CIML and join the Little Hawkeye Conference at their next meeting on Monday, February 24.

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