WILMINGTON, MA — Earlier this month, the Wilmington School Committee unanimously approved the continuation of payments of regular compensation & benefits to its salaried & hourly employees through last day of school.
Absent from the vote, however, were stipends. As a result, it is currently unclear if spring sports coaches will receive their stipends — in part, in full, or at all.
At this week’s School Committee Meeting, during the “Public Comments,” resident Kathleen Black Reynolds asked the Committee and District Leadership why they haven’t decided yet whether or not to pay the high school’s spring coaches. It’s something that many residents have been asking on social media.
“I’m perplexed as to why the stipends are being withheld from all of our current coaches,” began Black Reynolds, who is a 25-year resident that has served as a voluntary coach for the high school tennis program and tennis instructor for the Wilmington Recreation Department. “The monies are budgeted for well in advance. The monies are there. Not to mention Wilmington has $24 million in free cash.”
Black Reynolds stressed how much work and effort goes into being a high school coach.
“They work all year-round with their players. They do all kinds of things behind the scenes, outside of the spring season… These coaches don’t just work during the spring season,” Black Reynolds added. “They deserve the respect and consideration from this committee and the town as a while. You should support what they do. I would think it leaves a bad taste in their mouths if the committee and district turn their backs and don’t pay them.”
Black Reynolds argued that the coaches’ families depend on these stipends and deserve their full stipends.
“Why coaches being singled out and not being paid is another perplexity that I haven’t gotten an answer to,” concluded Black Reynolds. “I think it makes sense from a loyalty perspective to pay these coaches their full stipends and not wait any longer.”
None of the School Committee members or Superintendent offered a comment and the matter was otherwise not discussed during the meeting.
The School Committee is scheduled to next meet on Wednesday, May 27 at 7pm via Zoom.
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