CEDAR RAPIDS — Principals in the Mississippi Athletic Conference approved Burlington High School’s departure from the league in a Wednesday meeting.
Burlington will exit after the 2018-19 school year and join the Southeast Conference. The Southeast Conference will be a six-team league, the MAC a nine-teamer.
The school said it wanted to leave to cut down on travel and expenses. It also said declining enrollment was a factor.
The Southeast Conference consists of Mount Pleasant, Keokuk, Washington (Iowa), Fort Madison and Fairfield. Burlington will, by far, be the largest school in the league.
It is uncertain if the MAC will look to add a member or members to replace Burlington. The conference is comprised of Davenport North, Davenport West, Davenport Central, Davenport Assumption, Clinton, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley, North Scott and Bettendorf.
From a geographic standpoint, the three Dubuque schools (Hempstead, Wahlert and Senior) would seem fits, as would Western Dubuque. Hempstead, Wahlert, Senior and Western Dubuque are part of what will be a 16-team Mississippi Valley Conference.
WD is scheduled to join the league next school year, leaving the Wamac.
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