Athens K-12
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School districts are only allowed two referendum questions per year, so if one or both of them fails, the district would not be able to come back to voters in the fall.
Superintendent Andrea Sheridan told the school board that she will present more information on the district’s facility needs at the July meeting. She said Baird will be back at the board’s August meeting to provide additional information on the district’s need for future capital and operational referendums.
School boards are required to approve a resolution for a referendum question or referendum questions at least 70 days before a regular election is held, which won’t occur until spring of 2026.
Other business
■ The board approved the 202526 co-curricular code. Athletic director Juli Gauerke-Peter said the only change is that now students who receive an F in the fourth quarter at the end of the school year will be penalized in co-curricular school activities such as sports in the fall of the next school year. She said eighth graders have a clean slate when they enter high school.
■ Board members approved the athletic training agreement with Health in Motion to allow athletic trainer Maddie Oleksy to continue providing shared services to the Athens and Colby school districts again in 2025-26. The two district will pay $23,000 each for Oleksy to provide their student athletes with athletic training services.
■ The board approved a busing contract with Fischer Transportation for the 2025-26 school year, with an increase of $23,000 over this past school year.
■ Board members renewed the district’s annual membership with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).
■ The board approved the human resources report, which includes the hiring of Seth Coker as middle school math teacher to replace Chris Czech, who retired. Jonathan Heier was hired as the district’s maintenance and operations supervisor, replacing Jamey Handschke, who resigned, and Laura Welge was hired as a parttime library medical specialist to help Dee Brewster.
The board also accepted the resignations of Emily Szutkowski, a fifth grade teacher at Maple Grove Charter Schoo, and Karissa Denton, a part-time school counselor.
Michelle Murkowski was hired as the sophomore class advisor for the Class of 2028 and Dakota Nowacki as a full-time seasonal custodian. Three summer school teachers were also hired, including Alyssa Antoniewicz, Michelle Carpenter and Adam Triebold.
Shawn Steinke, Matthew Ellenbecker and Andy Thurs were hired as assistant football coaches, and Jake Stange, Darion Ellenbecker and Jon Heier were hired as middle school assistant football coaches.
Karla Erickson was hired as a middle school cross country coach, and Mandy Ellenbecker and Joel Heimerl were hired to coach volleyball.
