Board presses for clearer co‑curricular handbook rules, asks for cross‑district stipend comparisons

Board members spent substantial time on proposed revisions to the district’s co‑curricular handbook and on discrepancies between the student handbook and board policy. A staff presenter outlined three suggested edits: eliminate powerlifting, ‘life of an athlete,’ and 3v3 (citing low enrollment), increase the lacrosse stipend and add assistant positions, and add an assistant for HOSA based on program enrollment.

Multiple board members urged a broader review. One committee member said many fine‑arts and other activities are not listed in the co‑curricular handbook and asked for a more cohesive and consistent fee and stipend structure so staff running activities are treated equitably. The presenter said the handbook currently references a 2004 student‑handbook line that says new club requests since January 2004 were at no cost to the district; staff confirmed that line does not reflect current practice and recommended removing it.

Staff said the co‑curricular guidelines include a minimum interest threshold (about 15 students) for assigning a paid stipend; programs that do not run consistently can be redlined and funds reallocated. The presenter also said cross‑district comparisons (Elmbrook, Muskego, Pewaukee, New Berlin, Oconomowoc, Hamilton, Waukesha) will be provided in the Friday update so the board can see how other districts assign stipends.

Board members requested the actual policy text rather than just a summary and asked staff to include the specific policy language and the full list of proposed handbook changes in the Friday packet. Staff agreed to bring the revised policy and the cross‑district stipend data at the next update.

Next steps: staff will remove the outdated 2004 language from the student handbook where appropriate, produce the co‑curricular handbook edits for board review on March 18 and include cross‑district stipend comparisons and the policy language in the Friday update.