The Mississippi Valley Conference has encouraged the governing bodies for high school athletics in Iowa to consider studying a possible merger of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The conference has not taken a stand on whether a merger should happen, but league officials would like the IHSAA and IGHSAU to study the pros and cons.

Marla Padget, the principal at Waterloo East High School and MVC president for the 2012-13 school year, sent a letter to Rick Wulkow, the executive director of the IHSAA, and to Mike Dick, the executive director of the IGHSAU, informing them of the league's desires.

A copy of the letter was made available to the Metro Sports Report, which posted a story about the issue June 9.

"Dear Mr. Wulkow and Mr. Dick," the letter begins. "At a meeting of all principals involved in the leadership of the Mississippi Valley Conference in eastern Iowa recently held in mid-April of this year, it was voted on to ask the Board of Control (of the Iowa High School Athletic Association) and the Board of Directors (of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union) to consider conducting an independent study to examine the pros and cons of a merger between the two athletic organizations and also involving the work of both the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa High School Speech Association.

"This was the result of discussion at our last formal meeting of principals and athletic directors that meet as a large group every November and April of each school year and a result of a motion and second to have me send this letter on behalf of our 14-member athletic/activities conference.

"Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We look forward to a response in the future.

"Sincerely,

"Marla Padget, Principal
"Mississippi Valley Conference President - 2012/2013
"Waterloo East High School"

Iowa is the only state in the country that has separate governing bodies for high school boys and high school girls. Mark Schneider, the superintendent of the Mid-Prairie school district in Wellman, thinks there are good reasons to merge the two groups and has taken a leadership role on the issue.

Schneider is a member of the IHSAA Representative Council and has discussed the issue with Wulkow and Dick. Wulkow declined comment when contacted by the Metro Sports Report. Dick is opposed to a merger, but said he is not opposed to studying the topic.