Joplin accepted into Central Ozark Conference

(From Joplin Schools)

Joplin Schools is excited to share that the Central Ozark Conference Board of Superintendents voted today to give final approval to Joplin’s request for membership in the large division of the COC for all sports and activities effective in the 2018-2019 school year.

The large school division of the COC currently includes the area school districts of Carl Junction, Carthage, Neosho and Webb City. It also includes the regional districts of Branson, Nixa, Ozark, Republic and Willard.

“On behalf of the COC, the superintendents are excited to welcome Joplin to what we feel is the most prestigious conference in the state of Missouri,” said COC President Dr. Shawn Randles. “We look forward to their collegiality, sharing each others best practices and encouraging a high level of competition on the fields and courts as we are all partners in education, and we all want what is best for southwest Missouri students.”

Joplin Schools submitted its application last fall. As part of the application process, the COC superintendents granted their executive committee of conference principals and athletic directors the approval to review the application. This review included research about the district, site visits and interviews. Following the review, the executive committee made a recommendation for approval to the COC superintendents. Final approval by the COC superintendents came today after a two-month waiting period allowing COC superintendents to seek consensus regarding the approval from their boards of education.

“We are grateful and excited to be accepted into the COC. This approval not only enables Joplin Schools to renew local rivalries in all sports and strengthen our programs to meet the level of competition in the COC, it will also lessen travel time and increase learning time for our students and provide cost savings related to travel. This ties directly to the goals in our new district strategic plan,” noted Joplin Schools Athletic Director Jeff Starkweather. “We have had a great relationship with the Ozark Conference and look forward to competing in that conference through the 2017-2018 school year.”