District 204 proposes new club and coaching stipends to reflect student interest and program growth

Lyons Township High School District 204 administrators presented a first reading Tuesday recommending new activity and athletic stipends to reflect student interest, program growth and safety needs.

On the activities side, the stipend committee proposed stipends for four student organizations: Bailando Contoured (a Latin American dance group), Careers in Psychology, Serbian Club and Irish Club. Each club is proposed at a 2.64 percent base activity rate (the district’s formula links contact hours to percentage stipends). Administrators estimated the total annual cost for the four clubs at roughly $6,200.

Athletics recommendations include two additional lower‑level football coaching stipends (to support an expanded freshman program that now fields three squads), two additional stipends for girls’ flag football (the program will expand to freshman, JV and varsity teams after strong initial participation and a spring intramural that drew more than 60 students), and one assistant coach for each boys’ and girls’ volleyball and lacrosse team (four assistant coaching stipends total) to ensure adequate coverage and development opportunities. Administrators estimated the athletics cost for the proposed additions at about $65,300 per year.

Administrators said the proposals reflect strategic goals to expand student opportunity and equity across programs and to provide safe, adequate staffing as programs grow. The recommendations will return for board action at the June 16 meeting.

Ending: The board received the first reading; the stipend recommendations will be included in the June 16 board packet for possible approval.