Dr. Jesse Ulrich On The Fort Dodge School Board Voting To Leave The CIML

Fort Dodge has decided to part ways with the CIML. At Monday night’s meeting, the Fort Dodge School Board voted to approve leaving the Central Iowa Metro League. The District issued a statement saying ” this decision was made after much consideration and with the best interest of our students in mind. Similar student body size and demographics in the the new conference that is under consideration will allow for more competitive seasons for the schools involved. This will be a positive change, providing our student athletes with better experiences and opportunities to be successful. Superintendent Dr. Jesse Ulrich echoed that sentiment saying the move is designed to create more equitable competitive balance.

Fort Dodge is part of a group of 10 current member schools, who have expressed interested in forming a new conference. Ottumwa, Mason City and Marshalltown have already voted to leave the CIML. Ames, and the five Des Moines Public Schools have not yet voted. The five Des Moines schools are all tied together and would either all stay or all go. However, Dr. Ulrich says a no vote from those five schools wouldn’t necessarily derail the plan to form a new conference.