The Board of Control reviewed the topics on the agenda for Wednesday’s Annual Meeting, modified a first consideration of a conference realignment proposal involving the Coulee, Mississippi Valley and Southwest Wisconsin Conferences and raised payment for tournament officials at its April meeting today.

The originally proposed realignment plan would have moved West Salem to the Mississippi Valley Conference to form an eight-team league. The Coulee Conference would have been reduced to six teams. The Board’s modification maintains the current conference structure and mandates two football-only crossover games between the Coulee Conference and Southwest Wisconsin Conference by the 2014 season.

Membership rules state if the preliminary recommendation is altered, first consideration action will be delayed until the next scheduled Board meeting. Therefore, the first consideration of the modified plan will be at the May 17 meeting.

The Board approved a staff recommendation to increase tournament game fees for officials effective in the fall of 2013.  A $10 increase will be issued to officials working regional and sectional events, and State Tournament fees will be upped $15. The game fee for goal judges in hockey and line judges in volleyball will receive a $5 boost. In addition, consideration of an adjustment in game fees will be given to officials for individual tournaments based on the nature of the events. The fee increases place payments more in-line with what conferences are currently compensating officials.

An increase in officials’ licensing fees and dues will coincide with the tournament game fee increases. The base fee of $20 will be increased to $35, and the $10 per sport fee will be increased to $15. The late registration fee will also be raised from $20 to $30. The licensing costs remain lower than all bordering states and will be the first increase in officials’ licensing dues and fees since 2004. The Board also approved implementing criminal background checks for all WIAA-licensed officials beginning with the 2013-14 re-licensing process.

In other Board action, appointments to the Officials Advisory Committee and winter cooperative program requests were approved.

The Board heard staff reports on preparations for the 30th Annual Scholar Athlete Ceremony; procedures for membership enrollment; a review of the winter tournaments; and an overview of tournament ticket prices, travel reimbursements and tournament host managers’ fees. The Board liaisons from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association also presented updates.

The membership of the WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 507 senior high schools and 65 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It will sponsor 25 championship tournament series in 2012-13. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.