Cadott School Board - Saddle up, there’s a new club in town

Josh Spaeth, Cadott School District administrator, listened May 16, as the board of education decided what to do to fill the two seats recently vacated. It was agreed to put out word that they are looking for candidates to apply before the next meeting. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Cadott School District has many clubs it’s home to and it now has one more, as approved at a special meeting, May 16. The matter of starting an equestrian club was first discussed May 12.

Through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association, which oversees equestrian competitions, interested students would practice at a facility in Lake Wissota, with the season running from August to October, coached by veteran rider/instructor Bonnie Weber.

“The school is pretty much hands-off, for the most part on all the background work with the club, like most of our clubs are,” said athletic director Zack Sirny.

The club will be for those in sixth through 12th grade and students must own their own horse, or could lease it from someone or borrow one. They must also provide their own transportation to and from practice, and competitions.

“Parental involvement is pretty big in this club,” said Sirny.

The cost to be part of the club is $120, per student, which falls on the family. It was suggested they could have a fundraiser to pay for the membership. So far seven have signed up for the club.

“One concern I had, was insurance,” said Sirny, but added that he was informed there is insurance at competition events.

It was also decided at the May 16 meeting, to look for interested community members to apply for the two recently vacated school board spots, left open by Brad Sonnentag and Casey Yeager. Sonnentag was appointed as school board president, then changed his mind and stepped down from the board altogether before the last regular meeting. A few days after the May 12 meeting, Yeager also unexpectedly stepped down.

If a resident of the school district appears before the board, they are not guaranteed to be appointed to the board, as it is a majority vote by the board. That individual would then serve until the 2026 election.

Those interested can pick up an application at the high school office or on the district website. They can then turn the completed application into Josh Spaeth, district administrator, at 426 Myrtle Street, or by email, to spaethj@ cadott.k12.wi.us, by 4 p.m., June 6.

“If Brad and Casey would change their minds, they certainly could apply back to the board,” said Spaeth. “They did a lot of good things.”