School reimbursements and officials’ pay increases also approved
STEVENS POINT — The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to approve Conference Realignment Task Force recommendations for the previously remanded 11-player football and lacrosse plans, as well as increases in several reimbursements, fees and allowances at its April meeting.
After hearing three appeals to the football revisions the Conference Realignment Task Force made to the remanded proposals, the Board approved the recommended revised plans, which will be implemented for boys and girls lacrosse beginning in the spring of 2026 and for football in the fall of 2026.
The Board’s action impacts 49 football programs assigned to seven conferences, including one plan that involves the Northeastern Conference and Eastern Wisconsin Conference, and a second plan that affects the Classic Eight Conference, Greater Metro Conference, North Shore Conference, Parkland Conference and the Woodland Conference. The approved plan for lacrosse impacts 20 boys’ programs and 18 girls’ programs that were assigned to three conferences, respectively. The three boys’ and girls’ leagues modified include the North Shore Conference, Greater Metro/Midwest Classic Conference and the Classic Eight Conference.
A complete listing of the conference configurations resulting from the approved football and lacrosse remanded plans are available on the Conference Realignment Requests and Proposals page of the WIAA Website.
The Board also addressed and approved three schools’ fast-track conference realignment requests to be implemented in the 2025-26 winter sports’ season. Port Washington and the West Bend East/West Co-op will both move from the Glacier Trails to the Greater Metro Conference in gymnastics, and Sheboygan Christian will move from independent status to the Eastern Wisconsin Conference in. boys swimming & diving.
After assessing the budget review cycle process presented by the executive staff, the Board supported several school reimbursement and licensed officials pay increases related to Tournament Series events, as well as adding a $70 stipend to tournament seed meeting hosts beginning next school year.
Among the increases, all schools hosting cross country sectionals will receive $1000 to assist in the expense of timing systems in lieu of charging participating schools an entry fee. In addition, regional and sectional tournament event manager stipends will be increased $20 per event, and regional and sectional tournament host allowances will also be increased $50 per event for all sports. Furthermore, the member schools’ tournament ticket revenue sharing percentage will be increased five percent in all sports.
Other increases will adjust school State Tournament reimbursements. Mileage returns to schools will increase $.15 to $.70 for individual tournaments with an increase of $.25 to $2 for team tournaments mileage. Additionally, $3 per meal will be added to the existing State Tournament reimbursements and lodging will increase $15 per night. State Tournament reimbursements to schools per person for individual State Tournament expenses will also increase $14.
Officials’ pay during the Tournament Series will experience a $10 boost to the current fee structure for each respective sport contest. The raise in officials’ compensation comes on the heels of a $10 increase implemented in 2024-25.
The total estimated increase of payments to schools and licensed officials is approximately $892,910. With the $807,350 increase distributed to member schools, the expected revenue to be allocated to schools in 2025-26 is approximately $4 million.
Topics of discussion included staff reports on the Annual Meeting scheduled on Friday, April 25 at the Sentry Theater in Stevens Point, the 2025 Scholar-Athlete Award Ceremony on May 4 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, a recap of the recent NFHS Legal Meeting, a review of the winter tournaments and a summary of the WIAA Beyond the Game: Give-Back Program to member schools, which accounts for approximately $300,000 in products.
Other discussions encompassed updates on Student-Athlete Leadership Team activities; the status of hiring a marketing & communications assistant; an update on the development of a WIAA Foundation; and reviewing the efforts to recruit and retain licensed officials, which prompted Board approval to editorial changes to the Guide for Sports Officials resource.
The Board received liaison reports from Dan Rossmiller of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Paul Manriquez of the Department of Public Instruction and Brittany Spencer Grant of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.
