Athens sees more turnover
By Casey Krautkramer
The Athens Board of Education on Monday voted on several personnel changes, including multiple resignations.
The board met in closed session to discuss Nathan Brost’s abrupt resignation as the district’s technology coordinator. Board member Katelyn Felzkowski Haugstad, Brost’s sister, was not allowed to be in closed session when the school board discussed her brother. She confirmed that her brother is now working for CESA 9. The board reconvened into open session to approve Brost’s resignation.
Board members accepted several staff resignations in open session, including fourth-grade teacher Kira Kalepp, high school social studies teacher Samantha Braun and part-time technology employee Alex Erickson. Guyler Luther, who is moving out of the area, resigned as athletic director, and Justin Bloch, a custodian at Maple Grove Charter School, will now be finished working on May 31, one month earlier than he originally planned.
Board members also approved the following hires for next school year: Tamara Schreiner as full-time payroll specialist, replacing Mary Dlugopolski, who is retiring; and Rebecca Bliven as full-time executive assistant to the superintendent and special education department, replacing Cheryl Strunk, who is retiring. The district now needs to hire someone to replace Bliven in her current job as administrative assistant (middle/high school secretary).
The board also hired middle/high school band teacher Stan Smith as a special events co-curricular advisor to direct the band in the Athens Fair Parade and other events outside of school; Bridget Kottke as concessions coordinator along with Abigail Van Rixel and Allison Wolf as summer school teachers. The district is also looking to hire two students as summer custodians.
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School board members met in closed session before approving the varsity head coaches and cocurricular advisor contracts for next school year.
The board renewed the following contracts for the 2024-25 high school sports season: Todd Diethelm as baseball and football coach, Tanille Hartwig as volleyball coach, Korey Rottscheit as cross country coach, Jeramie Penney as boys basketball coach, Jodi Gauerke as wrestling coach and Matthew Ellenbecker as softball coach.
The district still needs to fill the varsity girls basketball and track coaching positions. Kyncaide Keefe was the varsity girls basketball head coach this past season. Varsity girls head track coach Cheryl Strunk is retiring from working in the school district. Cade Ellenbecker and Karla Erickson are currently the co-head boys varsity track coaches.
The school board hired the following co-curricular advisors for the 2024-25 school year: Adam Triebold for show choir and musical production; Danielle Gauerke for the sophomore class, cheerleaders and High Quiz Bowl; Brenda Walker for the junior class; Chris Czech for middle school math league and sixth grade Jump Start; Korey Rottscheit for the senior class and high school math league; Jessica Bingham for high school forensics and Raise Your Voice; Dee Brewster for National Honor Society, Freshman Soar, color guard, middle school student council and forensics and freshman class; Emily Triebold as musical production assistant; Jackie Schelling for the Athens Elementary School yearbook; Mark Nelson for Science Olympiad and high school student council; Michelle Murkowski for FBLA; Sheila Nievinski for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), senior class and Raise Your Voice; Emily Szutkowski for Maple Grove Charter School yearbook; and Kerri Zamzow for Maple Grove Charter School student council.
Other business
n The school renewed the district’s two Aspirus Health Plan options for single and family Signature and Freedom plans, at an 8.4 percent increase in premiums over this year. Athens is in a health insurance consortium with other area school districts that contract with M3 Insurance to get the best health insurance rates.
n Board members also renewed the district’s Delta Dental plan with no increase in premiums for next year.
