The newly formed Central Illinois Conference is now down to eight member schools.

At a meeting that took place Wednesday afternoon, the eight members officially created the Central Illinois Conference (CIC) and Argenta-Oreana was voted out. Principal of Argenta-Oreana High School Sean German explains they had been in talks with the Little Okaw Valley Conference (LOVC) about joining. He says back in late September, the LOVC had extended an invitation to the nine schools who have the left Okaw Valley Conference to join them in a mega-conference.

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According to German, that was an option they felt was very much worth discussing. Unfortunately, they were the only ones to go to the meeting. However, from that discussion was an invitation was extended from the LOVC to join them. At that point, Argenta-Oreana Schools now had two options, and German explains they began to seriously consider both and which would be better for their students.

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German did not keep his discussions with the LOVC away from the eight schools in the now CIC. He says he was up front with them and said while if he had to make a decision as of earlier this week, his decision would be to join the LOVC, but he felt because nothing was definite, Argenta-Oreana wanted to remain a part of their discussions. At which point the eight voted out Argenta-Oreana.

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When comparing conferences, German explains he found a lot he liked about the LOVC. He says when it comes to the arts, the LOVC also offers an every other year band festival. And he felt the two-divisions they will set up accommodated better to their travel costs, and they could continue competing with other members of the new CIC in other sports, as they are in their geographical region already.

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For the 2014-15 school year, Argenta-Oreana becomes the 11th team to join the Little Okaw Valley Conference. German says while it would have been nice to continue conversations with CIC since nothing is certain yet for them, but he says he understands their situation in having to make schedules out.