KDSN RADIO News
West Harrison and Missouri Valley School Districts Announce New Athletic Collaboration
On Thursday, February 13th, the West Harrison School Board officially approved a collaborative agreement with Missouri Valley, allowing for the shared use of all 7-12 athletics beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. This partnership also includes a sharing arrangement for 9-12 track, soccer, and golf for the spring season of 2024-2025. The Missouri Valley School Board had previously given its approval for this agreement during a regular meeting on February 10th.
This new cooperative effort builds on earlier agreements between the two districts, which have already arranged to share baseball and softball for the 2025 season, as well as football for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons. Both school boards emphasized the importance of early decision-making to support logistical planning, enable student-athletes to engage in offseason programs, and ensure a seamless transition for participants in the shared sports programs.
West Harrison has a history of sharing athletic programs with neighboring schools, typically in response to low participation numbers. Such arrangements have often been made mid-season, as demonstrated with girls' basketball for the 2024-2025 school year. Seeking to provide families with greater predictability for upcoming sports seasons, the West Harrison Board began exploring long-term sharing options in the fall of 2024. This process included engaging students, surveying parents, and hosting a community meeting, with survey results showing strong support for partnering with Missouri Valley.
When approached with the opportunity for further athletic sharing, Missouri Valley expressed enthusiastic support for expanding access to sports programs for West Harrison students. Previous shared programs, such as girls' basketball and baseball, have yielded positive results, and both districts hope that these successes will serve as a model for the future. While the arrangement may result in classification changes for some sports, increased participation is expected to enhance overall team success.
Key elements of the joint plan include:
-
West Harrison will provide in-season transportation for student-athletes and offer an assistant coach who will be integrated into the Missouri Valley coaching staff. This initiative is designed to ensure students have a smooth transition and familiarity with the coaching staff during practices.
-
Teams participating in the shared athletic programs will compete under the name "Missouri Valley Big Reds."
-
West Harrison facilities will be made available for practice scheduling, should the need arise.
-
All athletic contests will primarily take place in Missouri Valley, though West Harrison facilities may be used for scheduling purposes when necessary, though this will not be a routine occurrence.
Both districts are optimistic that this collaboration will not only expand opportunities for students but also foster a stronger sense of community and teamwork among student-athletes in the region.
