The joke at the end of the Platteville School Board meeting was that the school district’s new staff welcome reception Aug. 29 would have to be in a larger room.

The School Board Monday approved 10 new hires and two transfers.

Michael Ferwerda, a UW–Whitewater graduate now teaching in Mukwonago, was hired as a fifth-grade teacher. Deanna Knoernschild, a UW–Platteville graduate now teaching in Cuba City, was hired as a seventh-grade social studies teacher. Alyssa Vogt, a UW–Madison graduate, and John Richter, who is now teaching in Dubuque, were hired as Middle School special education teachers. Jay Gesin, a graduate of Kalamazoo College who completed education courses at UW–Whitewater, was hired as a Middle School English/Language Arts teacher. Kelly Erickson, who has been teaching at UW–Platteville, was hired as a Middle School physical education teacher.

Jamie Gutowski, a Valparaiso University graduate, was hired as a High School special education teacher. Edward Wiegman, who was teaching in East Troy, was hired as the High School technology education teacher.

Megan Bohlken, a UW–Eau Claire graduate who worked in Darlington and Fennimore, was hired as a Speech/Language Pathologist. Brad Kettler was hired for a custodian/maintenance position.

The School Board also approved two transfers. Rebecca Oppert is transferring from special education to a sixth-grade teaching position created because of increases in enrollment from the closing of St. Mary’s School. Page Leahy is transferring from the High School library to the media director/district librarian position based at the Middle School.