Longtime Stratford teacher to retire

By Casey Krautkramer

The Stratford Board of Education last Wednesday approved middle school teacher Bridget Christopherson’s retirement at the end of this school year.

Christopherson has spent her entire 31 year career in Stratford, teaching every grade from kindergarten through eighth.

The school board also approved the hiring of Maria Schoenfuss, a Stratford alum and recent graduate of UW-La Crosse, to replace Christopherson as middle school math teacher next school year.

Board members also approved the hiring of varsity football defensive coordinator Marshall Lehman as varsity head football coach next fall. He replaces Jason Tubbs, who retired from coaching football after leading the Stratford Tigers to their third straight WIAA state championships this fall. Lehman, an Edgar graduate and Stratford middle/high school technology education teacher, served as defensive coordinator for 12 years under head coach Tubbs. Lehman had also been Stratford’s varsity head baseball coach.

The school board also hired Brooke Bohman as a custodian.

Other business

■ The board approved the purchase of two Resilite FLEX3 lightweight tapeless wrestling mats for a total cost of $26,626. The old mats currently being used are heavy and hard to carry from behind the bleachers on the middle/high school stage onto the gym floor.

■ Lauren Lucius, the district’s business manager, provided an update on the budget.

■ The board approved the 2025-26 CESA 9 shared service contract for $65,183.

■ Board members met in closed session to discuss the conduct of a school district employee but did not take any action when they returned to open session.

■ The next school board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, in the middle/ high school library.