BEATRICE - The Beatrice Board of Education has postponed action to approve a new conference affiliation, in favor of more input on the idea.

Beatrice was recently approached by four schools interested in establishing a new, not yet named conference. Those schools are Nebraska City, Platteview, Wahoo and Ralston.

Beatrice currently competes in the River Cities Conference. Under a proposal, Beatrice, Ashland and Plattsmouth would join the new conference in 2020-2021, with other schools possibly joining the following year.

Beatrice School Superintendent Jason Alexander says the conference would be made up of class-B public schools.

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:39 "basis, as well"

A recent meeting was held between Beatrice school administration and coaching staff, along with activities Director Neal Randel, who says there is movement toward reclassification of districts by the Nebraska School Activities Association to account for growing districts and those that are not.

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:28 "shakes out"

Randel says enrollment figures apparently will make Class B the smallest in Nebraska in terms of the number of schools, while class A will likely be larger. The NSAA would next release a new realignment in the fall or early winter.

One question is how many class-C districts that have grown enough, will become Class-B schools.

School Board member Eric Trusty is in favor of moving away from the River Cities Conference to the new, more southeast-Nebraska based conference.

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:19 "C-one"

Board member Steve Winter says stability would be important.

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:07 "to answer"

Of the nine schools in the River Cities Conference, Board member Janet Byars points out that only three of them are public schools.

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:36 "that opportunity"

The board voted 6-0 to postpone action on a conference affiliation. Consideration could come up again in June or July, once more input is given. Beatrice would remain in the River Cities Conference for next school year.