MASON CITY – Mason City Community Schools is entering into a five-year exclusive athletic apparel and equipment program agreement with Decker Sports, a Mason City-based sporting goods company that also has done business with Forest City schools.
The agreement, titled “Decker Sports – Exclusive All School Program,” is between Decker Sports and Mason City Community Schools. The term of the agreement begins July 1, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2031. It will be considered at Monday’s school board meeting.
Under the agreement, Mason City schools will purchase athletic clothing, sideline apparel, footwear and headwear through Decker Sports during the term. In exchange for allowing Decker Sports the exclusive right to provide athletic gear to the district, the school district will receive pricing discounts on Decker Sports products.
The agreement also says the school will purchase equipment for sports when possible, with some exceptions granted at the discretion of Decker Sports. Examples listed in the agreement include sports such as football, baseball and volleyball.
Online apparel stores and webstores for the school district are also to be set up through Decker Sports salesmen only, although the agreement says some exceptions may apply at Decker Sports’ discretion.
The agreement includes financial benefits for the district. Mason City schools will receive $5,000 cash up front for the initial year of the term, followed by $5,000 each additional year.
The district also may receive a product rebate of $15,000 and $2,000 in marketing dollars, though those benefits are subject to conditions. The agreement says total purchases must reach at least $25,000 in apparel and uniforms to qualify for the rebate, all invoices from Decker Sports to the school must be current, some special program items may be excluded, decoration charges are not included in calculating discounts or rebates, and freight charges paid by the school are not included in calculating discounts or rebates.
The agreement also includes a “first negotiation and matching rights” provision. That section says the school will exclusively negotiate a renewal with Decker Sports. If the parties do not agree on renewal terms and the school receives an offer from another vendor involving athletic gear, the school must give Decker Sports the right to renew the agreement on terms at least equal to the third-party proposal.
Decker Sports has also been connected to Forest City schools. The Forest City school board previously approved a $24,750 purchase of new middle school and high school football uniforms from Decker Sports, following discussion of the condition of the district’s football uniforms.
Decker Sports is a longtime Mason City sporting goods and team athletics business serving schools, teams, youth leagues and recreation programs. The Mason City agreement keeps a local company tied closely to the district’s athletic programs for uniforms, apparel, equipment and related services through 2031.
Decker Sports all-school program agreement for Mason City Community Schools (SEE BELOW)
