It's official.  Santa Fe Trail will be leaving the Big 7 League after four short years and is set to join the Pioneer League starting in the 2014-15 school year.  In a press release from USD 434 at Santa Fe Trail that was sent to current Big 7 League members, it was noted the move was approved by the school board of education at their December 12, 2012 meeting.  

"It is the intent of the school district to see that all contracts are honored through the 2013-2014 school year.   We have enjoyed our relationship with all of you and look forward to working with as many of you as we can in the future."

Santa Fe Trail and Perry Lecompton left the former "Kaw Valley League" and joined the Big 7 at the start of the 2010-11 year, effectively, keeping Big 7 League at 8 schools after the departure of ACCHS and Maur Hill/Mount Academy to the Delaware Valley League.  Earlier this year, the 14 member - DVL announced plans to disband which sent many Northeast Kansas teams into flux. 

Eight formers members of the Delaware Valley are set to have their own league (Northeast Kansas League) starting in 2013-14.  These schools include: Jackson Heights, Valley Falls, Jeff County North, Oskaloosa, McLouth, Pleasant Ridge, Maur Hill-Mount Academy and Immaculata.  

Then, Doniphan West and Troy schools accepted invitations to join the Twin Valley League which was also approved starting in the 2013-14 school year.  

Next, ACCHS voted rejoin the Big 7 League following a four-year absence , and Riverside also was approved to move into the Big 7.  This would have made 10 schools in the Big 7 League; which were planned to be split into 5 Class 3A schools in the North (Hiawatha, Sabetha, Nemaha Valley, ACCHS and Riverside) and 5 Class 4A schools in the South (Holton, Royal Valley, Jeff West, Perry Lecompton and Santa Fe Trail).  

That means (following Santa Fe Trail's departure) the Big 7 League future currently stands at 9 schools.

Santa Fe Trail will become the seventh school in the Pioneer League, joining: Iola, Wellsville, Anderson County, Prairie View, Osawatomie and Central Heights. 

With KC Christian planning to be an independent school again, the one area school that is still without a league is Horton.  They have requested to be placed in a league and have their next hearing with the KSHSAA scheduled for January 9th when info will be presented to the state.  Horton had to submit three league preferences based on school size and proximity, which they choose the new Northeast Kansas League, Twin Valley League and Big 7 League as their three best options for placement.  Those three leagues are expected to have representatives on hand for the January 9th hearing with KSHSAA.