Athletics director highlights participation, low coaching pay and facility goals

Mike, the district’s athletics presenter, told the board that participation rates are generally strong but that mergers with neighboring districts have affected some team sizes. He described summer programs, a revived boosters club, social-media outreach and plans to merge programs where needed for swim and alpine ski. “Our pay is the lowest in Wayne County with with coaches, and I feel that that's been hurting some of the coaching coaches that we have,” Mike said, urging attention to compensation as a recruitment issue.

Mike said the district has pursued coaching clinics and parent outreach to boost engagement, and that the athletic program is piloting recognition programs such as 'athlete of the week' to increase community visibility. He described capital-project priorities — turf fields, upgraded dugouts and scoreboards — as items that would improve facilities and experiencing for athletes and spectators.

Board members asked about JV participation and scheduling; Mike said finding nearby JV opponents is increasingly difficult in the region and described typical game limits (for soccer, a 16-game maximum and about 12 games as a common JV target). He said efforts to recruit qualified coaches include professional development and clinic offerings, but noted the district's stipend steps top out at 15 steps with little incentive for coaches who have served long-term.

No formal motions were made tied to athletics at the meeting; the board asked Mike and district staff to follow up on booster-club finances in the context of Title IX obligations and to continue exploring options to make coaching roles more attractive.