Independence to join Arcadia, Whitehall gymnastics co-op

The Arcadia High School gymnastics program could have a larger pool of future gymnasts after a school board decision last Monday.

The district school board unanimously approved entering a gymnastics co-op with Independence High School at its meeting Monday. Board president Paul Servais was absent.

Arcadia will be the host school for the co-op, which will now be a three school program — Whitehall was already part of a co-op with Arcadia.

“One of the things (we) have talked about with this is pure numbers. Our numbers are very, very low,” Superintendent Lance Bagstad told the board of adding Independence.

Arcadia had three girls on its team this season and is expected to have about five next season with the co-op, Bagstad said.

The co-op agreement will last for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years and will be revisited by the board in two years.