Even though Hurley and Viborg school officials are currently discussing a sports co-op, some say consolidation might be in the cards down the road.

The towns are eight miles apart.  Hurley's superintendent, Shane Voss, says he thinks approval of a sports co-op would lead to consolidation talks. In his words, "It's just a matter of when."  But Voss adds that it depends on whether Marion releases Hurley from their current two-year contract for a football co-op.

Officials say a Viborg-Hurley co-op would have a combined high school enrollment of 103 and would be in Class 9AA in football and Class A in basketball next school year.  But school officials also say enrollments in the two districts are declining.