Abbotsford selects new elementary school principal

A graduate of Abbotsford High School will be making her return to the school, this time as a member of the school’s administration.

Abbey Frischmann is a 2002 graduate of Abbotsford High School and will be replacing long-time principal Gary Gunderson after this school year. She has served as an educator in multiple facets since graduating from UW-Eau Claire in 2007.

Frischmann earned her bachelor’s degree in Middle child early adolescents while acheiving a minor in Spanish teaching. She also spent a semester in Cuernavaca, Mexico at ITESM University to help acheive her minor in Spanish.

Frischmann began her teaching career as a Spanish teacher in the Minocqua School District. She then worked as a general teacher for two years before heading to Oshkosh to be a middle school teacher in the Oshkosh School District.

Frischmann started her administrative career at the Kaukauna Area School District in 2015 as she became the principal of New Directions Learning Community, a public charter school that serves 200 students from grades 4K - 4.

While at the school, Frischmann was named the 2016-17 administrator of the year in the Kaukauna School District. She said it was important to find a job in central Wisconsin and it just so happened that Abbotsford had an opening.

“My family and I have considered moving back for years,” Frischmann said. “We were waiting for the right opportunity to come along and this was it! I’m very excited to be able to give back to the community that I was a part of for so long. It has always felt great coming back to visit and see how the community has changed and evolved. Abbotsford is a great school district that has been growing and changing to serve the families in the community.”

She said, “I believe in building a trusting and collaborative environment with all stakeholders-staff, parents, the community and students,” Frischmann said. “It’s important to make school a fun, safe and welcoming place for all students. Parents are sending us their pride and joy every day and I believe it is our job to make each day the best it can be for every student that walks through the doors. I also believe that all students are capable of great things! We just need to find a way to help them reach their potential.”

FEMA building progress

District Administrator Ryan Bargender gave the board the opportunity to tour the FEMA building to see the progress that has been made on the structure.

Currently, all the floor has been placed and the concrete roof has been installed. Utilities, outlets, ceiling tile and other essentials are being installed. Windows and exterior doors have for the most part not been finished but Bargender said every day he goes out to the site, he can tell new things have been added and finished.

Exterior brick is close to being finished and Bargender said he is hoping the interior punch list will be tackled on or around April 20th with the grand opening of the building coming in June.

Bargender told the board that funding for the building that was slated to be distributed by FEMA has yet to be distributed. He said he has been in contact with Jordan Buss who wrote the FEMA grant for the school and has requested that payment be distributed as soon as possible.

Bargender said the delay in payment has been frustrating but said the school has been using donations used for the project, their capital projects fund as well as money from the general fund to pay contractors. If the money were to not be distributed by the end of the month, the school would be forced to look into short term loan options.