Wilmot board approves cuts to co‑curricular stipends, sets assistant‑coach participation thresholds

The Wilmot UHS School District board voted to reduce co‑curricular stipend positions and to adopt participation thresholds for assistant coaching posts as part of ongoing budget‑reduction efforts.

Superintendent (speaker 2) told trustees the district had identified vacant stipends that could be cut with minimal program impact — including forensics director and assistant, and the culinary club — and proposed eliminating other roles (student government assistant, art club, and two intramural positions). "The estimated cost savings for the stipend positions is around $8,000," the superintendent said.

The board also approved formal participation minimums to determine whether assistant coach positions would be funded, noting that some sports have JV‑two teams only when participation justifies a second coaching position. Athletics staff (speaker 5) explained, for girls’ basketball, the guideline would require 13 players to maintain a JV‑1 and JV‑2 structure; when numbers fall below the threshold a JV‑2 position would not be retained.

Board members pressed for clarity about which teams would have been affected this year; administrators said JV‑2 teams for girls basketball, JV‑2 softball and JV‑2 baseball would not have been carried at the established thresholds this season. The motion to approve the reductions carried; the transcript records the board voting in favor but does not provide a roll‑call tally.

Administrators said coaching savings will vary year to year depending on participation. The board recorded the vote and moved on to other agenda items.