Staff file photo / Dan Hiner Salem’s Abby Knickerbocker (13) drives to the basket during the second quarter of a Division IV district semifinal against West Branch in Beloit on Feb. 24.

The Northeast 8 Conference will finally return to its appropriate number of teams.

On Friday, the league announced the addition of Salem as its newest member, with the Quakers joining in all sports except football for the 2027-28 academic year.

The recommendation was approved by a 7-0 unanimous vote of the Northeast 8 Conference Superintendents, according to a press release issued by the NE8.

The press release said that the decision to join in all sports except for football “was made collaboratively by the member schools and Salem administration.”

It also said that the Quakers will continue football competition in the Eastern Buckeye Conference.

The NE8 has operated with seven schools — with Girard, Hubbard, Lakeview, Niles, Poland, South Range and Struthers as founding members — since Jefferson left the league at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.

Salem was looking for a new home after Minerva, Carrollton and Marlington announced in February they were a part of several schools forming a new league for the 2028-29 school year.