Board approves remanded conference plans; school reimbursement, officials’ pay increases
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to approve Conference Realignment Task Force recommendations for the previously remanded 11-player football and lacrosse plans, as well as increases in several reimbursements, fees and allowances at its April 23 meeting.
After hearing three appeals to the football revisions the Conference Realignment Task Force made to the remanded proposals, the board approved the recommended revised plans, which will be implemented for boys and girls lacrosse beginning in the spring of 2026 and for football in the fall of 2026.
The board’s action impacts 49 football programs assigned to seven conferences, including one plan that involves the Northeastern Conference and Eastern Wisconsin Conference, and a second plan that affects the Classic Eight Conference, Greater Metro Conference, North Shore Conference, Parkland Conference and the Woodland Conference. The approved plan for lacrosse impacts 20 boys’ programs and 18 girls’ programs that were assigned to three conferences, respectively.
A complete listing of the conference configurations resulting from the approved football and lacrosse remanded plans are available on the WIAA website.
After assessing the budget review cycle process presented by the executive staff, the board supported several school reimbursement and licensed officials pay increases related to tournament series events, as well as adding a $70 stipend to tournament seed meeting hosts beginning next school year.
Among the increases, all schools hosting cross country sectionals will receive $1,000 to aid in the expense of timing systems in lieu of charging participating schools an entry fee. In addition, regional and sectional tournament event manager stipends will increase $20 per event, and regional and sectional tournament host allowances will increase $50 per event for all sports.
Plus, the member schools’ tournament ticket revenue sharing percentage will be increased 5% in all sports.
Other increases will adjust school state tournament reimbursements. Mileage returns to schools will increase 15 cents to 70 cents for individual tournaments with an increase of 25 cents to $2 for team tournaments mileage. Additionally, $3 per meal will be added to the existing state tournament reimbursements and lodging will increase $15 per night. State tournament reimbursements to schools per person for individual state tournament expenses will also increase $14.
Officials’ pay during the tournament series will experience a $10 boost to the current fee structure for each respective sport contest. The raise in officials’ compensation comes on the heels of a $10 increase implemented in 2024-25.
The total estimated increase of payments to schools and licensed officials is approximately $893,000. With the $807,350 increase distributed to member schools, the expected revenue to be allocated to schools in 2025-26 is approximately $4 million.
