LINN  — At Linn R-2’s April 18 meeting, Athletic Director Chris Minnix recommended that the school leave the Show-Me Conference, but board members took no action.

“This would be the right move for us,” he said.

Current schools within the conference are Linn, Russellville, South Callaway, Eugene, New Bloomfield, Fatima, St. Elizabeth, Chamois, and Tuscumbia.

Linn has been part of the SMC since the 1970s. “That’s a long time, and we’re tied to those communities,” said Minnix. “Over time, what worked then doesn’t necessarily work now. Travel was a major concern of ours.”

He acknowledged that Linn’s mileage to games would double the travel time in some instances. However, actual time spent traveling would be about the same because buses would not be traveling on winding roads as much.

Linn travels furthest to play Tuscumbia, which would not be in the new conference.

“In the new conference, is there any school that’s farther away than Tuscumbia?” Board President Dr. Shawn Strong asked.

Minnix said that Scotland County is the farthest away, but that school would only be part of the new conference for football, though membership hasn’t been decided yet. “Their board (Westran - which would like Scotland County to be a part of the new conference) took no action at a recent meeting,” said Minnix. “They’re (Westran) waiting to see what will happen, I think.”

Several schools in the conference in which Scotland County plays are considering eight-man football. “That being said, with Eugene and New Bloomfield not having football, that’s a concern for them,” said Minnix. “Every district has to look out for their best interests.”

Other schools in the new conference would be Linn, Russellville, South Callaway, Eugene, New Bloomfield, Harrisburg, Fayette, Salisbury, and Westran. The farthest away in this group are Salisbury and Westran at 96 and 109 miles, respectively.

“We talked about being creative in our scheduling,” said Minnix about a recent meeting he had with other Show-Me Conference and potential new conference athletic directors.

That might include playing Scotland County at Harrisburg or another neutral location roughly in the middle.

Regarding Salisbury and Westran, Minnix said the trip to those schools would only occur every other year. Further, Minnix said the idea would be to combine sporting events on one night to cut down on travel expenses. Softball and football, for example, would be such a combo.

Superintendent Bob James agreed with the idea of creative scheduling, noting that long-haul trips would likely be on Fridays.

Board member Brett Phillips noted that while he understands the situation with Scotland County, he wanted to ensure everyone knows that some schools are two hours away — one-way — and other sports that compete during the week would be affected.

“Isn’t that fair to say?” Phillips asked.

“Yes, and that’s why we’re talking about creative scheduling,” Minnix replied. “So, we would move games to Fridays when we can.”

Phillips agreed that was a good plan but said Linn would have to accommodate the schedules of other schools as well. “I have no doubt you’re going to do that to take care of us, but parents need to know there are going to be some long hauls on school nights for our kids if we make this switch,” he added.

Board member Mark Baker said he likes that most similarly-sized schools in the current conference would be traveling to the new conference with Linn. “I also think in looking at some of the other conferences you shared with us as a reference, like EMO and Lewis and Clark, we probably haven’t realized how good we’ve had it with regard to proximity to other schools,” he added. “So, I think if we’re wanting to play like-sized schools, this is what we’re going to have to do. There are outliers. I’m not thrilled about driving to Salisbury or Westran, but those schools usually have good programs, and it’s a straight shot up 63, so it’s not that bad.”

Dr. Strong asked if junior high volleyball would remain a spring sport. Minnix noted there has been discussion about moving it to the fall to line up with other schools.

“As far as volleyball is concerned, there’s no difference between where we would go in the new conference except for the fact that we get a fresh start,” Minnix added.

Superintendent Bob James interjected that Linn is one of five schools in the nine-member Show-Me Conference seriously looking for a new home. He noted the drive is to compete against schools of similar size and talent with a closer range of enrollment.

Show-Me Conference enrollment ranges from Fatima at 323 to Chamois at 32. The enrollment differential would go from 281 to 61.

New Bloomfield hasn’t committed to football beyond junior high, but the “murmur” is the school is starting from the bottom up.

“Part of our decision has to be if we don’t go, we have to start thinking about a reconstituted Show-Me Conference, and we don’t know what that looks like because we’d have to invite schools to join,” said James.

The plan is to have boards at each conference school determine a level of interest before proceeding.

“Is it more likely than not that the old conference, for lack of a better word, implode?” Dr. Strong asked.

“Yes,” James replied. “If not this year, then next.”

“Because you’re on a two-year cycle, you’d really like to get a commitment now to get through next year and the following year, go to the new conference,” said Dr. Strong.

“Yes, next year would be as-is,” James said.

Minnix said that next year’s schedules are already set, so if a decision is made to move, schools in the Show-Me Conference would have a year to decide how to handle the 2024-25 season.

With this change, Linn would move to varsity in the 24-25 season for football, Minnix added.

Patron Larry Hunt asked why Fatima isn’t on the list of schools moving to a new conference.

Minnix said Fatima is twice as large as any school in the new conference.

“I assume Fatima hasn’t expressed any interest in doing this,” said Phillips.

“No,” said Minnix.

“I’m sure they know what we’re doing,” Phillips added.

“We’ll still play them, but it won’t be a conference game,” said Dr. Strong. “They’re twice as big as we are, and our goal is to be in a conference with like-sized schools. That’s the driving force, right?”

“Yes,” Minnix answered.

“Our goal is not football?” Phillips asked.

“It is a driving factor as well,” said Minnix.

“I just can’t believe we’d bring it up if we didn’t have football,” said Phillips. “Is that fair?”

Minnix reiterated that football is a factor but said other sports would also benefit.

“An argument can be made that playing better people makes you better, but your conference schedule has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to go forward in districts and the state tournament,” Phillips said, clarifying that he isn’t necessarily against the move, but wants all information to be clear.

“My impression is they’re not introducing a new conversation to Linn this year,” said James. “My impression is that this has been a two to three-year discussion, and now, they’re recognizing that not just our football program, but Russellville and South Callaway’s football teams, and we come in, and they see some momentum. Now is the time for this discussion because we’re not like many others.”

“In the long run, I think this is going to be most beneficial for us,” said Minnix.

James said if the district chooses to move forward, the best course of action is to vote on it as a matter of protocol.

“Does anyone have any heartburn about it?” Dr. Strong asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Phillips replied. “We’re making a motion to go into a conference that doesn’t exist. I would think athletic schedules are in the hands of the administrators we hired to do that. That, to me, seems like a micromanagement thing.”

“That’s why I wondered if we needed a motion to do it,” Dr. Strong said. “Maybe it’s okay to say we’re not opposed to it.”

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Phillips. “If Chris wants the board’s endorsement, I get it. It just seems a little early to me. The intention, if I heard you correctly, was just to get some feedback at this point.”

Phillips asked if a motion could be made saying the board supports the move to a new conference if that is deemed best by administrators.

“We could do that too,” Dr. Strong replied.

“It’s the chicken and the egg thing,” James said. “Do you have a conference first? But then you have to dissolve the current conference.”

James added he would be more comfortable if the board made the decision, noting he doesn’t want to speak for board members. “Yeah, my son goes here, but you guys are the community. I’m very interested in what you want to do as a community,” he said.

Phillips recapped his concerns by making sure everyone understood that there would be games played during the week at outlying schools and that Linn wouldn’t have the option to avoid playing any team in the new conference.

“I know Chris will work hard to accommodate our kids, but still, there will be those games,” said Phillips.

Board member Naomi Klouzek agreed but noted it’s only every other year that Linn would travel to these schools.

“If you manage it correctly, maybe you would just have two long nights per sport, and we could get them all on the same night,” Klouzek added. “It wouldn’t be every week that you’d have a long night.”

James noted that should the district proceed, the new conference would need bylaws, which Linn would help develop. He reiterated that playing at a neutral site would be a good compromise.

Klouzek said that if mileage restrictions are still on the books, they will need to be revised.

James will take the information, including Linn’s support should the conference be formed, and return with an update.

In other action, board members certified the replacement of incumbents Dr. Strong, Klouzek, and Greer. No election was necessary because the number of candidates equaled the number of open seats.

Dr. Strong was reelected as president, Hannah Swann will again be the VP, Mark Baker was elected secretary, and Klouzek was chosen as treasurer. James was appointed custodian of records.

Remaining business will be presented next week.