DuPage Valley Conference considering expansion

In a statement released on Thursday, the DuPage Valley Conference announced it is exploring expansion.

Currently a conference of nine schools, the DVC's move comes as a response to four of the schools - Glenbard North, Lake Park, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South - engaging in talks with Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North to form a new conference.

"We think it is time to bring in some like-minded schools who have high academic standards as well as healthy sports and activity programs," wrote Metea Valley principal Darrell Echols, the president of the DVC.

After years of stability as an eight-school conference, the DVC reduced to six schools in 2014 when Lake Park joined the league and Glenbard East, West Aurora and West Chicago left for the Upstate Eight Conference. The DVC grew to nine schools a year later with the addition of Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley.

Citing enrollment disparities with Naperville Central, Naperville North and the three Valley schools, the Wheatons, Glenbard North and Lake Park announced two weeks ago they were pursuing a new conference with the four Tri-Cities schools. DVC bylaws dictate that those schools must decide to leave by Dec. 1 to form the conference in time for the 2018-19 school year.

"Exploring the possibility of expansion may include arriving at an even number of schools, which is helpful for conference scheduling," the statement reads, meaning the DVC is expected to try adding an odd number of schools regardless of whether or not the four schools depart the DVC.

The statement notes that "preliminary conversations with potential schools" are scheduled for the end of October. No schools, the statement says, have notified the DVC Board of Control of their intention to leave the conference.

"Our desire to expand is based on our efforts to provide more opportunities for our students to compete with schools that have similar philosophies on equity and excellence as well as a strong focus on academic achievement," Echols said.