It's Official: Dorchester-Milford Sports Merger OK'd By Milford School Board

The Times has learned that the Milford School Public Schools Board has approved a sports co-op with Dorchester Public Schools that could start as early as next year. The Milfod board approved the sports merger during its meeting this week.

The Milford Times reports on this development, noting that Milford Superintendent Kevin Wingard said: "(Dorchester) wants their kids to be able to participate (in activities) and they’re afraid they won’t be able to do it on their own."

The Milford board approved a two-year junior high football merger with DPS starting next season, a two-year varsity wrestling co-op beginning in the same year, and a two-year football coop beginning with the 2014-2015 season if projected combined enrollment numbers fall in the Class C-1 range. “The third motion made it clear that if we’re ever in danger of moving to Class B in football the coop would be over immediately,” Wingard said. “We’re not going to be able to make a move to Class B.”

The sports merger is currently going to include junior high football, varsity high school wrestling and high school football, but could include other sports and activities down the road, Wingard said.  He said the schools cannot start the football co-op until the 2014 season because of the way the Nebraska School Activities Association schedules football two years in advance. However, Wingard said an appeal will be made in hopes that football players coming from Dorchester would be able to play next season.

If the appeal is denied, Wingard said there are other alternatives to get the Dorchester athletes on the field, but those will have to be discussed at a later date, he said.  Wingard said the co-op could be utilized for other activities in addition to sports.  “We’re not sure where it’s going but we know these are on a two-year trial,” he said.