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The second step in a process that Bonner Springs High School hopes will culminate with its admission to the Kaw Valley League was completed on Wednesday.

Bonner Springs officials attended the KVL's principals' meeting at Alvamar Country Club in Lawrence to make a formal presentation to league officials requesting admittance to the league.

Bonner Springs is currently a member of the six-school Huron League, but school officials said they feel they would be a better fit in the current nine-team KVL.

"We think that what your schools have to offer us, the closeness of competition, the level of quality, the types of relationships within your communities, would benefit us," Superintendent Bob Van Maren said during the presentation. "I really think it would be better for our kids and our community to be a part of a league such as yours."

Van Maren, BSHS Principal Jerry Abbott, Athletic Director Garold Baker and recently-retired AD Len Mohlman spoke to the league's principals for about 45 minutes on issues such as athletics, academics, facilities, travel, schedules, sportsmanship, and the fact that Bonner Springs teams already play most of the KVL schools in all sports and grade levels.

Along with that, numerous parents and fans travel to the games.

The Bonner Springs group also told the KVL principals that as far as athletics are concerned Bonner Springs is far from being a powerhouse, having won just 12 Huron League titles in all sports since 1989.

Van Maren also pointed out issues regarding enrollment growth at BSHS, saying that indications show the district will grow about 2 percent in the next year or so, then flatten out.

"We anticipate being in Class 4A or 5A for many years to come," said Van Maren.

All Kaw Valley League principals will now take the information they received to their respective boards of education for discussion.

Abbott told the principals that if accepted, he would like to give Huron League schools at least one year notice, meaning Bonner Springs would probably begin competition in the KVL in 2002.

Dr. Larry Andersen, Piper principal and president of the KVL, said a decision could be made no later than the league's February meeting.

"I will ask the rest of the members how they want to proceed from here and if they want to make this an agenda item in January or February. We need to have some time to discuss this," Andersen said.

"I thought they brought up some really great points. There is a real commitment here to coming in in style, which I think is really important. I thought the presentation was really good. I learned an awful lot about Bonner I didn't know about. It was well done. Facilities are always an issue, sportsmanship is something we've really tried to deal with and address and the fact that they have a lot of non-athletic activities is big."

Van Maren said, "I think what we said was well received. I think it would be a benefit for us as well as the other schools."

Bonner Springs began the process by sending a letter to KVL officials in August, officially requesting they be considered for admittance.

The current member schools of the KVL are: Basehor-Linwood, DeSoto, Immaculata,Lansing, Mill Valley, Perry-Lecompton, Piper, Santa Fe Trail and Tonganoxie.

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