The Corn Belt and Okaw Valley conferences recently voted unanimously to propose a merger of the two conferences. This new proposal will now be taken back to each school’s superintendent and board of education at the school’s March board meeting. If approved, the conference would start in the 2017-18 school year.

The proposed conference would bring together Central Catholic, Illinois Valley Central, Olympia, Pontiac and Prairie Central with The High School of St. Thomas More, Monticello, Rantoul, St. Joseph-Ogden and Unity from the Okaw Valley Conference.

Naming the new conference will include student input to be brought back to the principals who will meet later this academic year to propose a name.