MONROE - The Monroe High School dance team may become a reality after earning at least preliminary approval from the school board Monday night.
The board voted unanimously to allow the dance team to move ahead with fundraising efforts to support a squad for this school year.
The team approached the board with a "memo of understanding" outlining plans to form a competitive dance squad. MHS principal Mark Burandt presented the memo, noting the plan has his and MHS Athletic Director Kevin Keen's blessing.
"Anything we can give an opportunity to do is a good thing," he said.
Technically, the dance team would be a competitive activity, but not a sport. That means participants would adhere to WIAA requirements for student-athletes but would be allowed to participate in a sport at the same time as the dance team.
The season for dance runs about the same as fall and winter sports, Burandt said. The state regional cheer and dance championships is in January, with the state competition in February.
The team would be entirely self-funded, Burandt said. Funds raised would be turned over to the Monroe Booster Club, which would keep money in a separate account to pay a coach's salary, costume costs and travel costs. As with other sports, direct solicitation of businesses would not be allowed but participants could have fundraisers such as car washes, he said.
No dollar figure was included in the plan. The coach's salary is dictated by the Monroe Education Association contract, and could range somewhere between $1,000 and $2,100, Business Manager Ron Olson said.
Should the team start fundraising and at some point not be able to continue the program, any money would revert to the Monroe Booster Club, Burandt said in response to a question from school board member Amy Bazley.
The team would have between 12 and 20 dancers. Organizers Linda Cates and Val Hoesly said 41 girls signed up for the team during recent school registration.
While the team is primarily competitive, the squad would also perform at up to two home football games and four basketball games of each gender. Performances, routines and costumes must be appropriate as deemed by the coach, athletic director and high school administration.
Having a self-funded program is not without precedent at MHS. Neither the soccer program and cheerleading, an activity but not a sport, receive school funding.
District Administrator Larry Brown said the memo of understanding makes it clear that the district will not be picking up the tab in the future.
"We won't be doing it," he said.
The board voted unanimously to allow the dance team to move ahead with fundraising efforts to support a squad for this school year.
The team approached the board with a "memo of understanding" outlining plans to form a competitive dance squad. MHS principal Mark Burandt presented the memo, noting the plan has his and MHS Athletic Director Kevin Keen's blessing.
"Anything we can give an opportunity to do is a good thing," he said.
Technically, the dance team would be a competitive activity, but not a sport. That means participants would adhere to WIAA requirements for student-athletes but would be allowed to participate in a sport at the same time as the dance team.
The season for dance runs about the same as fall and winter sports, Burandt said. The state regional cheer and dance championships is in January, with the state competition in February.
The team would be entirely self-funded, Burandt said. Funds raised would be turned over to the Monroe Booster Club, which would keep money in a separate account to pay a coach's salary, costume costs and travel costs. As with other sports, direct solicitation of businesses would not be allowed but participants could have fundraisers such as car washes, he said.
No dollar figure was included in the plan. The coach's salary is dictated by the Monroe Education Association contract, and could range somewhere between $1,000 and $2,100, Business Manager Ron Olson said.
Should the team start fundraising and at some point not be able to continue the program, any money would revert to the Monroe Booster Club, Burandt said in response to a question from school board member Amy Bazley.
The team would have between 12 and 20 dancers. Organizers Linda Cates and Val Hoesly said 41 girls signed up for the team during recent school registration.
While the team is primarily competitive, the squad would also perform at up to two home football games and four basketball games of each gender. Performances, routines and costumes must be appropriate as deemed by the coach, athletic director and high school administration.
Having a self-funded program is not without precedent at MHS. Neither the soccer program and cheerleading, an activity but not a sport, receive school funding.
District Administrator Larry Brown said the memo of understanding makes it clear that the district will not be picking up the tab in the future.
"We won't be doing it," he said.