Edgar OK’s land attachment previously denied by Athens
By Casey Krautkramer
The Edgar Board of Education last Wednesday unanimously approved a request from town of Riebrock residents Allen and Patricia Voight to detach their property from Athens School District and attach it to Edgar School District. The Athens School Board had previously denied the Voights’ detachment request two days prior to the Edgar School Board’s decision.
Under state statute, the Voights can appeal the Athens School Board’s order of denial with the secretary of the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School District Boundary Appeal Board before March 15. Appeals received after March 14 will be rejected as not timely.
In most cases, according to state law, these types of appeals are heard by a three-member board appointed by the state superintendent. The panel members are also members of the school district boundary appeal board.
The panel must include one person from a district with small enrollment, one with medium enrollment and one with large enrollment. The appeals panel, after hearing details of the petition, may affirm, deny or modify the school board’s denial of the reorganization of the territory designated on the petition. The appeal order shall be issued before June 15 following the filing of the appeal. Any order of detachment is effective July 1.
Allen and Patricia Voight completed their petition to alter school district boundaries on Feb. 27, 2024, and the Athens School District received it on July 10, 2024.
Wisconsin Statute 117.12 (3) says that during the month of February, each affected school board must give the petitioners an opportunity to meet with the board to present reasons for the proposed reorganization before adopting a resolution either granting or denying the detachment. Each affected school board must vote on the proposed reorganization.
Although the couple has no children attending either school district, the family says it feels more closely associated with Edgar School District because they have contributed money toward Edgar High School senior scholarships over the last several years.
Other business
■ The board approved the resignation of high school counselor Kaylee Olund at the end of this school year.
■ The board approved the following spring coaches: Connor Handrick as varsity head baseball coach, Mitch Mueller as varsity assistant baseball coach, Brock Handrick as JV baseball coach and Brian Halvorson and John Peterlik/Mark Schroeder as middle school baseball coaches. Kevin Brown was approved as varsity head softball coach, Hannah Schoenfuss as varsity assistant softball coach, Stuart Davis as JV softball coach, Macy Borchardt as JV 2 softball coach and Mariah Kohl as middle school softball coach. The district is still looking to hire one more middle school softball coach.
■ The board also approved Greg Streit as varsity head track coach. Assistant track coaches Andrew Lukasko, Adam Decker, Mandy Streit, Tom Normington and Nathan Dahl were approved at 83 percent full-time and Jon Streit as the other 17 percent.
■ Board members met in closed session to discuss and take possible action on the renewal of administrators’ employment contracts. Superintendent Cari Guden said after the meeting that the board didn’t reconvene into open session because there was no action to take.
