The Albert Lea School Board at a recent workshop discussed the idea of lessening the school sports teams’ role in the Big Nine conference.

Board member Tom Eaton stressed that this was just an idea. He said it would be done partially to give the football team a better chance at becoming competitive.

Playing schools that are much larger than Albert Lea in the Big Nine conference, such as Rochester Mayo, the team’s ability to compete is diminished.

In becoming a partial member of the Big Nine, Albert Lea could then compete with more schools that are of the same size, but wouldn’t have to play the large schools. Instead they would play schools like United South Central, St. Peter and others.

But the effects of such a move may change everything for all sports as well as music programs. A different level of competition may not be good for everyone, according to Eaton.

Eaton said that while the talk may be there, the possibility of becoming a partial member of the conference is slim.

Other action from Monday’s school board meeting:

– High schoool students will be able to go to Spain on a trip hosted by Spanish teacher Gayle Brownlow.

The trip will take approximately 10-14 students to Spain next summer.

– A school board workshop on Nov. 4 discussed another change for Albert Lea sports.

Eaton said that equipment for pole-vaulting will need to be replaced in order for it to be compliant with new Minnesota State High School League rules, which have changed because of the number of injuries that have happened in pole-vaulting over the last few years. The equipment could cost around $10,000.