The Oregon School Activities Association Executive Board on Monday approved a plan that will allow The Dalles High School to play an independent football schedule next season. Under the plan, the remaining three Columbia River Conference schools, Hood River Valley, Pendleton, and Hermiston, will join the five Intermountain Conference teams in the Bend and Redmond area to form a special district for football only. The Columbia River Conference will continue as currently constituted for all other sports. The Dalles has struggled with participation numbers in its football program for a few years, and will play smaller schools under an independent schedule as the program attempts to rebuild.