Now that the if part is largely done, it’s a matter of when the Pella Dutch will have a new conference to compete in.
Just before winter break, the Pella School Board approved an invitation to join the Raccoon River Conference after a 30 year tenure in the Little Hawkeye Conference.
Activities Director Matt Fouch says now, it’s up to the current superintendents of the Little Hawkeye to decide if Pella can join the RRC in 2027-28, or if they will have the Dutch wait a full two years before letting them go. Additionally, a new state committee that will form early in 2026 will have to make final approval, which is expected considering the match Pella is for the new league.
Ultimately, Fouch believes this was the best move for the Pella Community School District in the long-term, citing anticipated enrollment decline locally over the next five-to-ten years. The move also had majority support from current head coaches, with none expressing desire to him to stay in the Little Hawkeye Conference. He says there was consideration into travel and other factors.