The Upstate Eight Conference is looking for a new member to take the place of Lake Park, which decided earlier this week to depart for the DuPage Valley Conference.

The moves will be effective the 2013-14 school year. In a news release, Lisa Hichens, Batavia principal and acting president of the UEC, indicated "the first preference" is to find a school to replace Lake Park in the larger enrollment Valley side of the UEC, alongside Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley, East Aurora, Bartlett and South Elgin.

"Obviously if we don't find a school that fits that description we'll open up the entire conversation," Batavia AD Dave Andrews said Friday.