April 16’s meeting of the Fennimore School Board was the last of this school year, as well as the last meeting of board member Lyle Lang, who has been a school board member for 23 years, and was as elementary principal for 12 years, giving him 35 years serving the Fennimore School District
Going with lasts, this past boys basketball season was the last of long time varsity coach Troy Larson, who announced his decision to step down during the public participation portion of the April 16 meeting.
Larson thanked the board and the district, stating it was a “tough decision, but last season took a toll.”
Without going into much detail, Larson went on to say there was some “unfortunate events throughout the season, and I chose to step down now so I can miss it, rather than stay on and regret it.”
“It has been a privilege, and I thank you for the opportunity. It will be forever cherished,” Larson finished with.
Fennimore School Board President Peter James on behalf of the board of all his years of service.
Also during the public participation, Laura Maier presented about the Fennimore Area Foundation announcing that they are serving as the ‘nonprofit organization overseeing the concession stand for the 2025 Badger Football home games.”
Maier was present to “get the word out” the Foundation is looking for volunteers for the games, and it’s recommended each game have 11 volunteers working at the stand.
The proceeds would go towards the annual “7th Grade Educational Trip” to Washington D.C.
Interested volunteers may contact Laura Maier at maier_21@yahoo.com.
District Administrator Jane Wonderling went over the school board election results from the April 1 election in which Adam Jackson and Peter Heberlein who also ran unopposed for their seats on the Fennimore School Board were reelected
Lang choose not to seek reelection and through write ins, Bridget Spraggon, was elected to the Fennimore School Board, and will begin serving on the board next month.
In addition to the approval of authorization of district contracts, the board also approved the contracts of Current Assistant Principal Hillary Day, who will be the new Fennimore Elementary School Principal, replacing the retiring Carmen Burkum, as well Alisha Richard, current school counselor at Cassville, who was approved last month as the district;s new 4K-12 Dean of Students.
The board approved the district’s Cyber Security Response Plan, which as Nathan Myhre, district network manager, stated was an “year and a half process,” to have a written manual in the event a serious cyber incident would happen.
The board also approved a $2,000 donation by the Maroon and Gold towards the volleyball stand.
Two resignations were approved as Chris Lull stepped down as an assistant wrestling coach, and Barb Riley as a special education paraprofessional.
Donna Hines, who also current serves in food service at the elementary school was hired to also serve as a school bus driver.
The student summer help employees were all approved by board to work during which Fennimore Middle/High School Principal Boone Tollefson stated would be an “interesting summer” with the construction/updating being done at the district buildings.
Due to large number of athletes in junior high track this year, the board also approved paraprofessional, Sarah Chulafich, as an additional assistant coach.
Lastly the board approved a bid from Wisconsin Bus to purchase a new bus, as well as install new and additional cameras in the current bus fleet.
After all board action and business was finished, Lang, again in his last meeting, called for a motion to adjourn, which was followed by a round of “thank yous” from everyone present.
The district’s yearly organizational meetings as will as monthly meeting will held on Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria of Fennimore Elementary School.
