Originally a 14 team league, the Big East saw the following membership changes: During the early 2010s, Camanche began petitioning to leave the Big East for a new conference, citing enrollment and inability to schedule junior varsity games against the league's smallest schools; eventually, Bellevue and Northeast also began efforts to seek a new home.
The Cedar Valley Conference, a league made up of similarly sized schools to the three, was Camanche's first choice.
However, member schools of the CVC objected, citing travel distances, and the Iowa Department of Education was eventually asked to help resolve the dilemma.
[1] On May 29, the Iowa Department of Education ordered the dissolution of the Big East Conference following the 2012–13 school year, but instead placed Bellevue, Camanche and Northeast into the CVC (while keeping North Cedar in the league and adding Cascade and Monticello).
Bellevue Marquette, Calamus–Wheatland, Clinton Prince of Peace, Lisbon, Midland and Preston were added to the Tri-Rivers Conference.