Merrill parent urges board to fund $6,500 fee so girls can join regional high‑school hockey co‑op

Kelly Grama, a parent and organizer of a local girls hockey camp, asked the Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education on July 16 to allocate funds so Merrill can rejoin the Central Wisconsin Storm girls high‑school hockey cooperative. Grama said Merrill previously co‑oped with the Central Wisconsin Storm (based in Wausau) but currently is not in the co‑op because “we don't have any players currently in high school on it right now.” She told the board there are six to seven middle‑school girls who plan to play in high school and that the co‑op requires a $6,500 annual fee for a joining district. The parent said her summer girls hockey camp drew 18 local girls ages 10–14 — more than double last year — and that the co‑op application window opens Aug. 1 and runs through Feb. 1. “So please consider allocating funds to Merrill, to allow Merrill District to coop up with Central Wisconsin Storm so our girls can have an open door in the future of girls hockey and to to play in high school,” Grama said. Superintendent Shannon Murray said the district is mid‑cycle in a two‑year cooperative schedule and confirmed Merrill has joined and left the Storm co‑op multiple times in the past. Murray told the board the application window is Aug. 1 to Feb. 1 and that, if pursued, the application would be for future school years (not the immediately upcoming season). No motion or vote on the request occurred during the meeting; Grama’s remarks were part of public comment and the item was informational. The board may decide later whether to pursue a cooperative agreement; Grama and other parents said they will follow up with the co‑op’s coach and WIAA contacts to begin the application process.