The Callaway School Board met on Oct. 10, and one point of discussion is one that has surfaced multiple times so far this year - the challenge of getting officials for sporting events.

AD and High School Principal Heath Birkel shared that a shortage of referees has contributed to early game times this year and sharing of officials. Birkel said South Loup has been doing what they can to attempt to accommodate the referees to keep them coming back - such as providing food and drinks for them at halftime. But another issue is the pay scale, as Birkel said some smaller schools - especially those in far western Nebraska - have found themselves having to pay more for officiating this year than they expected.

Those fees are not set by NSAA. “I did have a volleyball official tell me we are a little low. He said they love coming here, but we are a little low,” Birkel shared.

Superintendent Bryon Hanson said the compensation for football officials was raised by the district this year already. “Now it’s almost like premium pricing, because they are getting double booked. If you want the 7:00 game you have to make your best offer, and whoever makes the best offer pretty much gets the primetime slot,” said Hanson.

For JV and junior high sports, officials do not have to be certified, but they do to referee varsity athletics.

Both Hanson and Birkel said they do not see a solution to the shortage coming anytime soon. The board discussed three policies at the meeting, all three of which were presented for a first reading. The first of those is the non-resident option enrollment policy. “The first thing we need to decide is if we want to accept non-resident part-time students. I would recommend that we don’t,” said Hanson. The addition of the wording to not take part-time out of district students was the only recommended change to that policy. The dual enrollment policy was also discussed, and Hanson said one of the questions that came up is whether the district has to allow part-time enrollment at all. “If we are going to be part of the NSAA, their policy states that we would have to provide the opportunity for in-district students to take the minimum of two classes to be eligible to participate in activities and athletics in their home school district,” Hanson explained. “We are an NSAA member school so we have to operate under their umbrella concerning part-time students. We do have some control over what kids can and cannot take. I do recommend having some restrictions on what we allow part-time students to take. We do not have to provide part-time enrollment at the elementary school level.”

The part-time enrollment issue was simply a discussion item at last week’s meeting. Hanson said he plans to gather feedback and have a policy recommendation regarding part time enrollment and non-resident part time enrollment as an action item at the next Board Of Education meeting.