The Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education has approved an increase in pay for officials working junior high athletic events.
The board met in special session Tuesday morning at the district office, with junior high athletic officials’ pay among the items on the agenda.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer said the request came from the junior high athletic director following the board’s previous meeting. The goal is to bring Mount Carmel’s pay rates more in line with other schools in the area and help the district attract officials.
Under the new rates, pay will increase by about five dollars for baseball and softball officials and by ten dollars for volleyball officials. Track officials will also receive an increase of about ten dollars, with the highest rate reaching 125 dollars for certain meets. Junior high basketball officials’ pay will remain unchanged.
Bleyer said the increases are relatively small but keeping rates competitive with surrounding districts is important when scheduling officials.
Board members agreed, noting the ongoing shortage of officials in high school and junior high athletics. Members pointed out that officials often work for relatively modest pay while dealing with criticism from spectators and the physical demands of games.
The shortage has also affected scheduling. Board members noted that football games have previously been moved to Thursday nights because of difficulty finding enough officials for traditional Friday and Saturday schedules.
Following discussion, the board unanimously approved the new junior high officials’ pay rates.