The Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference experiences another shake-up in its league with another school departure.

The Jonathan Alder Local School District has accepted an offer to join the Central Buckeye Conference, making it a 10-school league. Next year will be the final year for the school district to play in the MOAC, which will now have six schools.

The CBC had offered Jonathan Alder to join the previous school year, but declined when the MOAC was still stable, said Jonathan Alder Athletic Director Tom Vargo.

But that change after several schools left the conference last year. The MOAC originally had two divisions with eight schools each. The Red Division was expected to lose Fairbanks with Clear Fork on its way to replace the school. The Blue Division decided to become its own conference with Danville replacing Elgin. Those changes dissuaded Clear Fork to join because of travel concerns at the middle school level, leaving the MOAC with seven schools including Jonathan Alder.

“I think this is our best opportunity,” Vargo said, adding that he enjoyed being in the MOAC.

He and Galion Athletic Director Kyle Baughn said it’s difficult to have a seven-school league, especially for football.

School enrollment and travel were also important factors.

“It’s really about distance,” Vargo said.

Galion and Jonathan Alder are about 63 miles apart, while Indian Lake High School in Lewistown will be the farthest school for the latter in the CBC at just over 54 miles.

Baughn said Galion will continue to remain for now with the MOAC, which looks to fill at least two schools to become an eight-school league again.