Lake Holcombe School Board; Morfoot steps into vacant seat left by Anders

By Ginna Young

To fill the open seat left by the resignation of Lake Holcombe School Board member Jeff Anders, the district asked for candidates to come forward, who were willing and able to fill the remainder of Anders’ term until it expires in 2022. After receiving responses from two individuals, the matter was acted on at a regular meeting Jan. 18.

Members were given resumes from the two candidates, then interviewed the individuals.

The first candidate, was Rhonda Mataczynski, former Lake Holcombe music teacher for 45 years, who also directed the district’s community play. Mataczynski graduated from Mount Senario College in 1974, with a vocal music education degree.

“This was my first, and only, interview, and I liked it so much, I stayed,” she said. “I served this community…and these kids, some of them sitting in this room, are very, very dear to me.”

Mataczynski said she wants to be part of making the school survive and see it be part of a vital community.

“The kids deserve to have an excellent education, so that they can compete with the outside world,” said Mataczynski. “Even though we are a small school, we have a lot to offer.”

With her passion for community and everything it stands for, Mataczynski said she sees both sides – that of the teachers, as well as the parents. As a substitute teacher, Mataczynski said she has been in a lot of school districts, and has seen what works and doesn’t work in those districts, and that she could bring that knowledge to Lake Holcombe.

“This needs to be a place where people work together for a common goal,” she said, “and the common goal being the education of these kids.”

Up next, was Jamie Morfoot, who graduated from the College of Saint Scholastica, as an English major, with minors in political science and women’s studies, where she received a master’s in social work. Morfoot worked for three years, at a residential treatment center with juvenile delinquent girls, then went on to be the program director for a community action agency, working with families in poverty.

She went back to her first calling – law – attending Hamline School of Law, where she earned a law degree, then became a guardian ad litem in Minnesota, representing the best interests of children in “sticky” custody cases.

“While I was doing that, I ended up teaching as an adjunct in the MSW program for Madison,” she said.

Eventually, an opportunity came at UWEau Claire, for a position for the social work bachelor’s program.

“I am from a long line of teachers and I always said I wasn’t going to teach, so my family loves that now I teach at the University of Eau Claire,” said Morfoot.

Morfoot has been at UW-Eau Claire six years, and while it is a 50-mile commute one way, multiple times a week, she said Holcombe is home for her, her husband and their son. Morfoot is also a member of the Lake Holcombe Education Foundation and serves as an election judge for the township, saying she enjoys policy and wants to be part of setting that for the school.

“But for me, the biggest thing is that I’m committed to this community and this is where I want to give my time at this point,” said Morfoot.

Board president Brian Guthman said he was very impressed with both resumes and was grateful that two people stepped forward to fill the void. Matt Flater, board vice president, agreed.

“I feel fortunate that we have two very qualified candidates willing to serve on the Board of Education,” said Flater.

After a ballot vote, Morfoot was unanimously selected to fill the open position and was sworn in on the spot. While Mataczynski did not gain admittance to the board, members strongly encouraged her to run in a future election.

As for Morfoot, she will serve out Anders’ term and can then run for re-election on the spring ballot at that time, if so desired.

Moving forward, the board approved a Phase 2 proposal from Apex Engineering for $54,300, to perform work to ready the school building for a conversion to all digital controls, which will manage the new boiler and existing air handling system. Superintendent Kurt Lindau says, after he read several emails from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in regard to the new COVID stimulus package (ESSER II), that the district is slated to receive four times the amount they did under the CARES Act.

Therefore, Lake Holcombe can use the new funds for repairing mechanical and non-mechanical HVAC systems.

“We’re required by state law, to have an indoor air quality plan,” said Lindau. “We know we have an antiquated air management control system with the boiler system.”

When Lindau originally met with the contractor, he didn’t think the district had the funds to complete Phase 2, but now that Lake Holcombe is in line for about $400,000, he says it is a possibility.

“It makes sense for us to move forward with the work,” said Lindau.

Also approved, was not capping the 2021-22 open enrollment spaces, as the district does not want to turn students away who wish to enroll.

“I recommend open for business,” said Lindau.

The board also approved the 2021-23 cooped cross country agreement with Cornell; as well as NHS adviser Nicole Crosby. The spring sports contracts were also approved – Brandon Baldry, head baseball coach; Andy Lorenzen, head softball coach; Shane Sanderson, assistant track coach; and Dan Wimmer, head golf coach.

Members also gave the blessing for the fall sports contracts – Brandon Baldry, head football coach; Andy Lorenzen, head junior high football coach; Chris Clark, assistant junior high football coach; Greg Anderson, head cross country coach; Beth Meddaugh, head volleyball coach; Dan Wimmer, assistant volleyball coach; and Sabrina Burlingame, co-junior high volleyball coach.

Also accepted, was $49.35, from Eastbay Lodge, to the music department; and $100, from Jacqueline Hawkenson, to the music department, in memory of Josephine Gygi.

Lindau also reported that he, and other staff members, are continuing to work on the school’s new social media platform, including an app for the district.

He also said vaccines doses are getting closer to all-around distribution at the school, while several frontline positions within the district have already had the vaccine offered to them.

In keeping with the health report, Lindau noted that parent/teacher conferences will likely be held virtually again, in order to give staff time to deep clean the school.

During the meeting, district accountant Lisa Spletter also brought up that the school’s property insurance renewal, which was around $30,000 in 2020, with a $5,000 deductible, is now $36,053 for renewal, a 19 percent increase. It was possible to go up to a $10,000 deductible, but that would only be a $2,000 savings.

“Kurt and I talked, and we felt the savings wasn’t worth doubling the risk with that increase in deductible,” said Spletter.

Spletter says the only proposal for renewal was received from Chubb’s and that the district’s agent submitted their application to 19 markets. The agent said the reason for only one proposal, is that companies couldn’t compete, that they are not in the “market” for schools.

But, Spletter said the biggest thing, was that in terms of protection, the school is too far away from the nearest fire department. The insurance brokers also expressed concerns that the department is manned by volunteers, creating too big a risk, along with property values also high.

Board treasurer Anneleise Willmarth questioned why it was so much of an increase, even with the distance from the fire department. Spletter said it was because the district had to file claims, stemming from when lightning struck the scoreboard and the school’s electronic sign was hit.

“In the last two to three years, we’ve had almost $60,000 in claims,” said Spletter.