W-M votes to approve Bessemer athletic contracts

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Wakefield — Members of the Wakefield-Marenisco Board of Education voted Monday evening to authorize four separate athletic contracts with the Bessemer Area School District.

The five-year Gogebic Miners contracts relate to football, baseball, softball and cross-country, and members added a contingency to each of them in relation to how coaches will be hired. The contingency relates to each district’s handling of internal posting versus preference.

Wakefield-Marenisco added to the contract that, although it will post any coach positions internally, that does not necessarily mean that an internal candidate will be hired.

While discussing the first contract for baseball, Superintendent Jason Gustafson explained that the Wakefield-Marenisco School District always posts all positions internally, including coaches.

However, President Brad Dalbec said of internal job applicants for any job, “We don’t give preference.”

Both men noted that the Bessemer district does give preference to internal candidates. Hence, Dalbec said the difference in policy needed to be addressed.

Trustee Brandon Yuchasz suggested adding a contract rider to the effect that “hiring will follow the host school’s contract.”

Moreover, added Trustee Mike Yon in relation to all four contracts, “I would change that at the bottom of all of them.”

All board members agreed to the changes, which respect Bessemer’s right to honor its own contract decisions.

The contracts also address home game (or meet) locations as follows:

—Football home game locations will alternate between both districts.

—Baseball home games will take place at Bessemer’s Massie Field.

—Softball home games and cross-country meet locations will be decided jointly by athletic directors of both districts.

In addition, all four contracts note the following provisions:

—Each sponsoring school district will provide the green, black and white uniforms, but players will pay the additional expense of adding their names to their uniforms, if desired.

—Each school district will provide transportation to away games.

—Each district will honor stated athletic codes and related penalties.

Other components of the agreement include fund-raising, expenses, scheduling, ticket sales, academic eligibility, equipment maintenance, etc.

Each party may cancel any contract agreement, as long as the action occurs no later than seven months prior to the start of the next season.

According to Superintendent Jason Gustafson, the contracts were set up by athletic directors, superintendents and board presidents from both school districts.

He added that members of Wakefield-Marenisco’s athletic committee also met to discuss the terms just prior to Monday’s meetings. Those members are Kim Zeckovich, Stacie Rooni and Marsha Vestich.

Members voted unanimously to approve all four contracts.