PLAINVIEW — The Osmond and Plainview school boards held a joint public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with a large crowd of both Osmond and Plainview school patrons in attendance.
Plainview Superintendent Dr. Darron Arlt began by sharing details on how this conversation started last spring and the meetings that have gotten both schools to the reality of a junior high sports co-op this current school year.
The conversation to extend the junior high co-op into high school next year has to take place this early because, per NSAA rules, football requires a declaration of cooperatives for the 2026-28 two-year cycle by Nov. 1 of this year.
Dr. Arlt stipulated that Plainview would want to continue with the Pirates mascot. Osmond Superintendent Skip Bremer commented, “Osmond kids just want to participate. They are ok with wearing red.”
Plainview secondary principal/activities director Kyle Schmidt shared details of enrollment, participation and classification numbers and projections for the current and future years.
Osmond Board President Mark Moes said, “We’re just happy to be involved in these talks. Things are going well so far. We’re in it for participation for our student athletes.
That’s the important thing.”
Plainview School Board President Rasmussen confirmed that Plainview is considering a cooperative agreement for girls’wrestling and boys’and girls’ bowling for this current school year. That declaration is required by Oct. 1.
The Plainview Board of Education was to consider taking action on that item at their special meeting on Monday, Sept. 22. Acooperative agreement for high school football and boys’ and girls’ basketball beginning with the 2026-27 school year will likely be considered at the Oct. 13 monthly meetings of the school boards.
Members of each board contributed to a conversation about the timing of adding additional activities in the future.
Volleyball was discussed, but the current numbers for both schools are sufficient for each school to sustain their own program. Although volleyball could be added for next year, that decision does not need to be made until next spring.
Each board welcomed input from patrons on what activities they would like considered for cooperation in the coming years.
With Plainview’s focus over the next several months on a bond election for facility improvements, both boards agreed that this was a reasonable first step and that it will be best for the Plainview Board of Education to focus solely on the bond election the next several months.
Several patrons from both Plainview and Osmond shared comments and asked questions of both boards.
One of the questions was if there was a guess as to costs for each school. Superintendent Bremer said it would be done the same as the junior high. They will track everything and there will be a 50-50 split minus transportation. Dr. Arlt added that the athletic directors of each school have created a spreadsheet to keep track.
One comment was that the schools have commented that they want it to be long-term but these are two-year co-ops.
Arlt said, “Yes, a future board could decide differently.” Bremer added, “But our plan is long-term.”
Someone questioned, with girls’ basketball probably going to Class C-1 when combined, wouldn’t the athletes have to travel farther?
Osmond’s Principal Kurt Polt said, "Remember, classification only matters in postseason. They will still continue to play the same conference opponents during the regular season.”
A question was raised about other activities that could be co-oped, such as one-acts or drama. Polt commented on some of the co-ops Osmond has had and said they appreciated the numbers and the relationships. Unfortunately, they found that the schools they cooped with before didn’t want to go out of Class D. He said the Osmond district commends Plainview for not being worried about going to Class C.
Arlt added that he has heard questions about Osmond’s co-ops with others not working. He said he has talked with the Randolph administration and they said it was not Osmond’s fault, so he didn’t want people questioning it.
The question was asked, if the two schools co-op and, down the road, they want to make improvements for the sports, how would it be handled. Dr. Arlt said that would be a committee discussion and if they decide it’s necessary, it would be a 50-50 split.
Some parents discussed the students and how well they work together. One said her daughter wasn’t sure about being in the co-op, but right away she came home and had everyone’s phone number. Adam Rice commented that his boys have been participating with Plainview in soccer for six years, and the kids have been happy with it.
Plainview’s junior high football coach said he has been working with Coach Justin Koehler of Osmond, and said “Our team is a great model. The kids get along. It’s a true partnership. We’re better together.”
A report on Tuesday morning from Principal Polt stated: Two new NSAA co-ops for the 2025-26 school year for Osmond and Plainview have become official. They are high school girls' wrestling and high school girls’/boys’ bowling.
Osmond and Plainview school boards and administration met to discuss junior/senior high cooperatives
