The Excelsior Springs School District will officially transition from the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference’s Blue Division to the Midland Empire Conference (MEC), starting in the 2026-27 school year.ESSD Activities Director Eric Marshall recommended the move during a recent school board meeting after previously informing the board the district had been approached about the possibility of switching conferences.“I know there were some concerns during our last meeting when we discussed the general interest level of MEC, which sparked further discussion,” said Marshall. “I also know there were specific concerns regarding mileage. I had Mr. Baker assist me with much of the research on this topic.”When evaluating mileage, the upcoming direct conference travel will result in an average increase of about 200 miles, leading to an estimated cost of around $375 per year for each sport, according to Baker. This increase will differ dependin...