Clarkson/Leigh No More?

[Anon1751637994]

I just read the board meeting minutes from Leigh's Oct. 15 board meeting. It looks as though the Clarkson/Leigh co-op is on the chopping block..............that would end a very long and successful co-op if it were to happen. I'm a little surprised by it all.

Leigh Community Schools - October 2025

Agenda NOTICE OF MEETING (9).doc Minutes LW 10-25.doc

www.leighcommunityschools.org

 

[Alum-Ni]

At a special board meeting of the Clarkson school board on Oct. 22, they unanimously approved to continue the coop agreement for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

Not knowing the behind-the-scenes details, there could be any number of issues that patrons of both districts have problems with: contest locations, coaching assignments, gate receipts, what activities to coop in, etc.

Clarkson Public Schools - Special Meeting Minutes

www.clarksonpublicschools.org

 

[Alum-Ni]

 

[just_average32]

Ouch. Pulling out the Bancroft-Rosalie move

 

[Dynasty Dreaming]

Could be one of the worst decisions ever, and hurt kids from both schools immediately and in the long run! They got together for a reason, and it’s worked really well. Hell their girls are in a district final in volleyball.

Neither community is growing enough to sustain long term. We’re still at a point only one child can take over a farm and few small farms exist.

So Leigh is fine now. What about in 15-20 years. Adults are dumb and ruin good things when it comes to coops and consolidations. Just my opinion.

 

[LooseCannon]

Could be one of the worst decisions ever, and hurt kids from both schools immediately and in the long run! They got together for a reason, and it’s worked really well. Hell their girls are in a district final in volleyball.

Neither community is growing enough to sustain long term. We’re still at a point only one child can take over a farm and few small farms exist.

So Leigh is fine now. What about in 15-20 years. Adults are dumb and ruin good things when it comes to coops and consolidations. Just my opinion.

This is so spot on. It’s not 1995 anymore. And the adults who graduated in the 1995 still think it is.

This would be a perfect time for Clarkson to merge with Howells-Dodge and just keep rolling up 10 win seasons every year in football and district titles in everything else.

They’d get bumped to C2 for a cycle or two but probably drop back to 8 man in football quickly. Those communities are not growing quickly.

 

[HuskerO58]

How long have they been together?

 

[[email protected]]

How long have they been together?

14 years

 

[HuskerO58]

14 years

Dang, that's a long time and a great run with quite a bit of success.

I'm not from the area so no dog in the fight, but hopefully they can figure out a way to stay together.

 

[LooseCannon]

 

[Dynasty Dreaming]

 

[Llama913]

 

[Llama913]

The only positive out of this would be a return of the Red Devil mascot.
Serious question, could East Husker remove them from the conference? Leigh & Clarkson on their own don't really fit IMO.

 

[hailvictors2]

Awful news. And just a ridiculously unprofessional move by Leigh. Clarkson is left without a cooperative partner now, and football cooperatives are due November 1.

 

[hailvictors2]

The only positive out of this would be a return of the Red Devil mascot.
Serious question, could East Husker remove them from the conference? Leigh & Clarkson on their own don't really fit IMO.

Yes

 

[Rolling Hills Rebel]

There must be some deeper issue Leigh had with clarkson here? Wasn’t Leigh trending towards dead back when this co-op started? I know they have rebounded nicely with the new school and a lot or positives happening in that community with the Leigh legacy fund.

Real bummer though, they were what I thought was a shining example of what a really successful co-op looked like and I’m sure other communities grappling with these decisions were using them as a model of how it could work.

 

[JAG164]

This is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen… And 1 day before CO-OPs?? Sad for the kids.

 

[Alum-Ni]

This is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen… And 1 day before CO-OPs?? Sad for the kids.

Just awful timing.....was it done this way out of spite?

Maybe the NSAA can grant Clarkson an extension to find a partner......?

 

[SkolSker]

There must be some deeper issue Leigh had with clarkson here? Wasn’t Leigh trending towards dead back when this co-op started? I know they have rebounded nicely with the new school and a lot or positives happening in that community with the Leigh legacy fund.

Real bummer though, they were what I thought was a shining example of what a really successful co-op looked like and I’m sure other communities grappling with these decisions were using them as a model of how it could work.

Leigh Legacy Fund lmao. Have fun in 6 man!

 

[LooseCannon]

I really hope those Leigh parents who wanted this enjoy seeing 14 kids on their 6 man roster next year wearing Panther gear and probably going sub .500 if that. What a short sighted move.

Leigh has no natural partners if the want to co-op again. They aren’t getting a bunch of Lakeview or Madison kids transferring to Leigh.

I feel awful for Clarkson. Hopefully the NSAA gives them a grace period to see if they can find a partner. And hopefully that partner is 7 miles on 91 in the other direction.

 

[ahansel]

2022 State Champs in Football and 2023 State Runner up in Volleyball. Success is there. What caused this to happen?

 

[JAG164]

2022 State Champs in Football and 2023 State Runner up in Volleyball. Success is there. What caused this to happen?

Absolutely no insight to this situation - but, been alive long enough to guess.. Someone at Leigh has a kid(s) that didn't/doesn't play.. Unbelievably near-sighted decision..

 

[GrizzzlyPanda]

Puts Clarkson in a really tough spot, as their only partner they really could have is Howells-Dodge. I think it would be sweet if they were able to join Howells-Dodge, but I am not sure I see HD taking them in and moving up a class in just about everything. Last football cycle for example that number would've been 66.

Leigh on the other hand obviously thinks they can do it by alone....but in a hypothetical situation Leigh does have a partner to the west in Humphrey. I am curious to see what happens with the Humphrey-Lindsay Academy coop as Lindsay Academy will no doubt grow over the next few years with their new facility. Could that open the door for a Humphrey-Leigh combo?

But obviously any school would be taking a MASSIVE risk jumping into any sort of agreement with Leigh, considering how this was handled.

Just some thoughts....

 

[LooseCannon]

Puts Clarkson in a really tough spot, as their only partner they really could have is Howells-Dodge. I think it would be sweet if they were able to join Howells-Dodge, but I am not sure I see HD taking them in and moving up a class in just about everything. Last football cycle for example that number would've been 66.

Leigh on the other hand obviously thinks they can do it by alone....but in a hypothetical situation Leigh does have a partner to the west in Humphrey. I am curious to see what happens with the Humphrey-Lindsay Academy coop as Lindsay Academy will no doubt grow over the next few years with their new facility. Could that open the door for a Humphrey-Leigh combo?

But obviously any school would be taking a MASSIVE risk jumping into any sort of agreement with Leigh, considering how this was handled.

Just some thoughts....

I mean, if Clarkson went with H-D and they bumped to C2, I’d bet they would do just fine in C2. Their coaches are great. Their athletes aren’t afraid. Howells bumped up in 2006 and they went 10-2 with a semifinal loss to eventual champion Wakefield.

 

[wildcat_husker19]

I'm from one of the communities and have talked with people in both communities.

To be honest, it's just not a good culture fit. Leigh kids would rather be on their own and lose than be with Clarkson and win (in their words). They don't like the coaching style and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. On the flip side, I don't think there's anything wrong with Clarkson's approach to sports being a huge priority.

A better fit for Clarkson would be Howells/Dodge. But the timing of this has put Clarkson in a really hard spot.

 

[GrizzzlyPanda]

I mean, if Clarkson went with H-D and they bumped to C2, I’d bet they would do just fine in C2. Their coaches are great. Their athletes aren’t afraid. Howells bumped up in 2006 and they went 10-2 with a semifinal loss to eventual champion Wakefield.

I have absolutely NO doubt that they would be perfectly fine at C2, I was just saying for reference more than anything.