West Prairie 103 and Southeastern 337 are negotiating a tentative co-op agreement for girls’ basketball and softball starting in the 2025-26 school year, West Prairie Superintendent Paula Markey said at Wednesday night’s school board meeting.
Markey said she is in ongoing talks with Southeastern Superintendent Tecia Lantz about the arrangement, which would mirror the existing football co-op between the two districts.
“What I proposed to Southeastern is very similar to the football agreement,” Markey said. “The only difference is the team would be just West Prairie High School Cyclones, using our colors and nickname. West Prairie would purchase and inventory the equipment.”
Regarding transportation, Markey explained that Southeastern would be responsible for getting its athletes to practices. For games, West Prairie would coordinate pickups at convenient locations if the team is traveling in that direction.
West Prairie would also retain ticket revenue from girls’ basketball and softball home games.
“Basketball has more games than football, which means more referees and transportation costs,” Markey said. “We expect few Southeastern participants, so the impact should be minimal. Both schools will follow IHSA rules. Southeastern athletes must handle their own physical exams. Staff passes from either school will be accepted at home games, except during post-season.”
Practices and games would take place at West Prairie Jr./Sr. High School in Colchester. West Prairie would provide both head and assistant coaches.
“While the football co-op requires Southeastern to provide at least one coach, for this agreement we prefer to control coaching,” Markey said. “If Southeastern wants to provide a coach, they can do so at their own expense. Ultimately, it’s a West Prairie team that Southeastern athletes join.”
No formal vote or signed agreement has been made yet. The West Prairie School Board will revisit the topic at its August 27 meeting at 7 p.m. in Colchester.
