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Four schools tell DVC they are leaving

Glenbard North, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South officially notified the DuPage Valley Conference of their intention to leave the league after the 2017-18 school year, and a similar notification is expected in the next few days from Lake Park.

The notification occurred at Wednesday's DVC Board of Control meeting among the league principals. Subsequent letters were received Friday by the five remaining DVC schools.

"They've notified us that they're leaving," said Naperville North athletic director Bob Quinn. "I respect their right to do what they need to do, but I'm disappointed and discouraged that they're choosing to leave the greatest conference in the state."

The decision comes after months of speculation that there would be movement in the DVC.

The DVC reduced to six schools in 2014 when Lake Park joined as Glenbard East and West Aurora left for the UEC. In 2015 the DVC grew to nine schools when Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley came aboard.

Feeling a growing disparity in enrollment numbers, the four departing DVC schools decided now was the time to make the move. The remaining DVC schools, meanwhile, announced last month that the league is actively looking to expand.

"Everything was handled with respect," Metea Valley principal Darrell Echols, the president of the DVC, said of the departing schools. "We've extended invitations to three schools to build a strong conference of eight, and I'm relatively confident it'll happen."

In October, Wheaton North principal Matt Biscan and WW South principal Dave Claypool met with principals from Upstate Eight Conference schools Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North to discuss the formation of a new conference.

In order to comply with DVC bylaws and be able to leave the conference in time for the 2018-19 school year, the schools needed to submit their intention to leave by Dec. 1.

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