The Wisconsin Rapids School District board defeated a motion to approve a proposed dual-enrollment stipend after lengthy discussion about costs and precedent. The stipend proposal — described in committee as roughly $12,000 total with about $5,000 identified from CTE funds — was moved to the full board but failed on a roll-call vote (Yes: Mister Kabir, Mister Kringes; No: Mister Bembo, Mister Indah, Mister Sparks, Miss Stevenson/Stephens Hintz, Miss Saint Myers).

Board members who opposed the measure raised two main objections: the district’s tight budget and the risk of creating a precedent that would prompt other staff to request extra pay for additional duties. One board member said the district already struggles to fund various staffing needs and that other teachers (for example, elementary teachers with large class sizes or staff coordinating after-school programs) were not receiving comparable stipends.

Superintendent Ron Rasmussen and staff had explained the stipend structure and noted that some funding could come from a CTE grant for qualifying courses; Mid-State dual-enrollment courses typically do not collect tuition and therefore do not pay comparable stipends, staff said. The board did not adopt the stipend; the motion failed and no new funds were committed.

The rejection returns the matter to committee or staff for further refinement if proponents want to reintroduce a modified proposal.