URBANDALE, Iowa — The smallest school in the Central Iowa Metro League (CIML) will remain in the conference.

In early February the Urbandale School District was officially invited to join the Little Hawkeye Conference, which contains similarly sized schools. In a survey parents and coaches expressed interest in leaving the CIML as it could lead to better chances for their athletes to win games and conference titles. Students, however, stated they didn’t want to leave in the survey.

At a meeting on Monday night the School Board voted 4-3 to remain in the CIML. The board released the following statement about the decision:

The decision to stay or leave the Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML) has weighed heavily on the minds and hearts of every UCSD School Board member. The feedback from our students, parents, coaches, staff, and community — combined with the comprehensive research provided by our Activities Team and Administration — were thoroughly studied in order to make an informed decision.

After great thought and consideration, the Board has decided to decline the invitation from the Little Hawkeye Conference (LHC) and continue our District’s affiliation with the CIML. The Board recognizes the history and success the LHC has experienced and was honored to have received an invitation to join their prestigious conference. The Board is committed to continuing to explore, improve, and invest in all our programs in an effort to close the gaps that are currently felt throughout our District. While we do not know the full extent of the work that will need to be done, we do know that community support is vital for strengthening our programs and ensuring positive outcomes for all students.

UCSD Board of Directors

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