Jakel appointed to fill seat on Abby School Board
By Kevin O’Brien
An Abbotsford High School graduate who currently has three daughters in the elementary school was chosen to fill a vacancy on the school board Monday night.
Nathan Jakel was the lone applicant for the seat vacated last month by board member Ivonne Vazquez, and was appointed by a unanimous vote of the board members present at Monday’s meeting.
“You guys have done a great job,” Jakel told the board before being appointed. “I look forward to joining the team.”
In his letter of interest submitted to the district, Jakel noted that he was a lifelong member of the Abbotsford community, a graduate of the high school and a father of three students.
“I am committed to the success and development of our school district,” he wrote. “Additionally, I am dedicated to helping the district navigate the challenges and opportunities it faces.” Jakel will serve on the board until at least April of 2025, when he will have the opportunity to run for either a two-year partial term or a full three-year term. Unless they decide not to run for reelection, board members Sharon Archambo and Gary Schraufnagel will also be on the ballot. Whichever two candidates win the most votes will win the three-year terms, while the candidate who comes in third will serve out for two years.
The incumbents have until Dec. 27 to declare non-candidacy, and those who wish to run for the board must submit a declaration of
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Nathan Jakel Abby schools
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candidacy, campaign finance registration and at least nomination signatures by 5 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2025.
Other business
■ ■ After hearing a short presentation from Kevin Mullen at Baird financial advisors, the board approved a resolution authorizing the sale of $2.5 million in general obligation promissory notes, in order to finance the district’s referendumapproved debt. The board previously approved $14.5 million in promissory notes in May after voters passed a $17 million referendum in April.
The notes will carry a maximum interest rate of 4.75% and will be paid off by 2035, according to the resolution. Mullen said the bonds will be sold in December and issued in January, so they will be in a different calendar year from the $14.5 million in notes.
Mullen said the repayment schedule is set up so the the district can keep its promise to voters not to raise the amount of taxes used to pay debt.
■ ■ The board accepted the retirement of middle school English teacher Krista Keech and the resignation of elementary school teacher Jenna Schneider.
■ ■ The board hired Sydney Falteisek as the middle school boys basketball coach and Brissa Diaz Miranda as a volunteer girls basketball coach.
■ The board approved the high school’s 2025-2026 educational planning guide, which includes a list of the classes available for students to take next year. High school principal Melissa Pilgrim said a few changes were made to the art and physical education offerings, and a new English as a Second Language (ESL) class for newcomers will be piloted this spring.
■ ■ A draft of the 2025-2026 school calendar, based on input from staff, was presented to the board by superintendent Ryan Bargender, who said most of the dates were rolled over from this year’s calendar. In order to accommodate planned construction projects, classes will be starting later next fall (Sept. 2) and ending later the following spring (June 4). The calendar will be on the board’s Dec. 16 agenda for approval.
■ ■ Bargender said design specifications for the referendum-approved renovations and classroom additions are nearly complete, with Market & Johnson planning to solicit construction bids after Thanksgiving. Bids will be due by Jan. 8, and will be opened that day at Market & Johnson’s office in Eau Claire. The board’s facility committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 to review the bids and make a recommendation to the full board.
■ ■ Based on parent surveys, Bargender said the district will be working with Northcentral Technical College to offer an English Learners class for adults. Also, based on staff surveys, principals will we developing screener questions for incoming students so that teachers have a better understanding of where the students are at academically.
■ ■ The board reviewed and approved a report from the district’s annual safety drill, which was conducted on Oct. 17 and involved all students in four-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade evacuating the K-12 campus and meeting at the rally point, St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. The focus this year was on reunification with parents following a school shooting or other disaster.
