Merging sports programs becoming new reality for small, rural high schools

Associated Press - October 18, 2009 2:55 PM ET

DUNNING, Neb. (AP) - High schools in sparsely populated areas will continue to merge their sports programs as budgets and enrollments continue to shrink.

That's according to Bob Colgate of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

More than 100 Nebraska schools have entered co-ops for individual sports such as swimming and softball, but there are only six Nebraska schools where all sports are merged. Among them is Thedford High and Sandhills High in Dunning.

The co-op became necessary last year. In Thedford's Thomas County, population dropped 20% from April 2000 to July 2008. In Dunning's Blaine County, the population is down 27% over the same period.

Sandhills' school district covers 904 square miles and Thedford's 700 - the combined size is larger than Rhode Island. Together the schools graduated just 22 seniors last spring.