LCC could make decision next month on new athletic conference

LAUREL – Laurel-Concord-Coleridge’s school board members may make a decision on pursuing membership in a new activity and athletic conference at its next regular meeting.

At its regular meeting last week and the month prior, the board and administrators discussed the potential to change its conference from Lewis & Clark to a newly formed group of eight schools which may include Elkhorn Valley, Hartington-Newcastle, Lutheran High Northeast, Neligh-Oakdale, Plainview and Summerland. Creighton, originally part of discussions, has decided not to join the new conference. West Holt may be interested in taking their place in the group of eight.

The schools were identified and invited based on school enrollment and geographic location.

A change in conference requires board action, expected next month. The change is recommended by Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen and Quin Conner, LCC’s activities and transportation director.

Dissatisfaction with the very large Lewis & Clark conference has been growing in recent years including an increasing concern about a trend in school-size disparity within the conference that impacts student opportunities, Christiansen said.

The size disparity leads to a decrease in opportunities for students playing in reserve and JV contests as schools LCC matches with in the conference oftentimes don’t have enough players for these lower-level games.

Other issues include logistics and scheduling issues.

Any change in conference would take effect for the 2025-26 academic year.

Christiansen said if a change in conference happens, the school would be open to maintaining some of the existing matches and rivalries with other regional schools – as long as it maintains opportunities for students.

At its regular meeting, the board also approved a two-year negotiated agreement to raise teachers’ salaries.

Base salaries were set at $39,700 for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of $1,400 and set at $41,200 for the 2025-26 school year, for an increase of $1,500.

The salary schedule includes four-percent increments for experience and five-percent increments for education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

The board also approved the findings from its annual audit.

“Findings were once again overall very positive with no significant deficiencies noted,” Christiansen said.

The only deficiencies found relate to the district’s limited number of personnel dedicated to accounting processes and control procedures which are commonly noted in smaller districts.

At next month’s meeting, the board will also consider a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration with a potential new daycare facility called Building Blocks.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 8., at the LCC High School Conference Room.