“This is the start of things moving quickly and lots happening,” stated Fennimore High School Principal Boone Tollefson as he introduced the Fennimore High Class of 2025 Laude honor students, as well as this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian during the February meeting of the  Fennimore School Board on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

With graduation a month earlier than in most years, Sunday, April 27, the road to graduation has began. 

This year, 23 of the 61 students in the graduating class achieved recognition under the district’s Laude system.  Students graduating with Laude honors are recognized with stoles as part of their robe upon graduation. 

Eight students earned Cum Laude Honors, earning between 17 and 31.99 laude points, and will wear white stoles at graduation: Noah Foreyt, Reese Ammon, Tristan Steldt, Ella George, Casey Leeser, Jaelynn Bruegmann, Tyson Starkey, and Tatum Schildgen.

Six students earned Magna Cum Laude Honors, earning between 32 and 44.99 laude points, and will wear silver stoles at graduation:  Jenna Ruchti, Alexandrea Bausch, Madalynn Oyen, Katelyn Schnitzler, Syler Zdanczewicz, and Benjamin Varela.

And finally nine students earned Summa Cum Laude Honors, earning 45 or more laude points, and will wear gold stoles at graduation: Kaitlyn Wells, Hailey Sweeney, Abigail Adrian, Elizabeth Day, Isaac Henkel, Kendall Quincy, Jessa Braudt, Matthew Winch, and Trinity Klais. 

Tollefson also announced the student with the highest Laude point total was Trinity Klais, and the student with the second highest total was Matthew Winch.  

Therefore, Trinity Klais is named valedictorian and Matthew Winch is named salutatorian of the class of 2025. 

Tollefson went on to say, “Congratulations to all. There are great things in front of you, and you have been great role models to the community.”

After some photos ops, it was back to regular school board business. 

Board member Margaret Sprague gave a recap of the Wisconsin Assassination of School Board convention she, as well as District Administrator Jane Wonderling and Fennimore School Board President Peter James, attended last month.

In her recap, as well as comments by Wonderling and James, the biggest topic of discussion at the convention was school budgets and the recent record number of school district referendums. 

James stated he spoke with many districts representatives stating their respective districts lack of fund balance, something the Fennimore district has not struggled with. 

“We are not the norm,” James explained. “We’ve been fiscally responsible, which has put us in a good financial situation.”

  James went on to say, “It is a credit to our administration, current school board, and past school board members.”

Wonderling added, when comparing Fennimore with other districts who having to cut not only program cuts, but employee lay offs as well “We every year have been able give our staff raises and supply good insurance,” another unfortunate budget cut in other school districts. 

The board also accepted three retirements and one resignation during last Wednesday’s meeting. 

Larry Helms is retiring after 19 years as a bus driver for the district.

Jim Prochaska is retiring as a physical education teacher after 24 years, but is remaining the athletic director and a softball coach. 

Fifth grade teacher Brenda Neisius will also be retiring at the end of the current school year after 39 years of teaching. 

The board also accepted the resignation of Carol Jozefowicz from just her position as public relation coordinator. 

The board also approved the baseball, softball, and track and field assistant coaches and volunteers for the upcoming spring sports season. 

Lastly the district’s retirement celebration lunch will held this year in the  Niehaus Hall of the Fenway House Hotel at noon on Friday, May, 9. 

The next meeting of the School Board of the Fennimore Community School District will be on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria of Fennimore Elementary School.