SPRING LAKE PARK, Minn. (August 29, 2013) – The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Board of Directors has recently announced that Irondale, Totino-Grace, and Spring Lake Park will be placed in the Northwest Suburban Conference beginning in the 2014-15 school year. This signals the dissolution of the current North Suburban Conference, effective June 30, 2014.
Major reasons cited for this latest endeavor include decreased student enrollment and the decline of various program offerings at Irondale, Totino-Grace, and Spring Lake Park High School. The Board of Directors accepted the recommendation from the placement committee and then notified the schools of their decision. As a result, the three schools will join the current Northwest Suburban Conference roster for the 2014-15 season. These include: Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Centennial, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Elk River, Maple Grove, Osseo, Park Center, and Robbinsdale Armstrong.
Consideration for placement in the new conference included the following criteria: the decreased enrollments of students at the three high schools, comparable athletic and extra-curricular activities, travel distance for competing schools, and the number of member schools in the conference under consideration. This will ultimately mean a more competitive balance, as well as a broader spectrum of opportunities for all students involved.
