School board prepares for election season, candidate drops out
Andy Banasik, Prairie du Chien School District Administrator.
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education set the ballot order for the spring election and renewed contracts for the district’s administrative employees during their Jan. 13 meeting.
Two seats on the board are up for election this year. Currently, those spots are held by Lacie Anthony and Treasurer Jim Hackett.
Hackett announced he would not seek reelection this past year.
Three candidates filled out paperwork to vie for the seats: Anthony, Alex Mathies and Kyle Maahs.
The road through election season became significantly easier for Anthony and Maahs during the meeting because Mathies announced he would not pursue a seat on the board. Mathies works with numerous programs in the community, including the 3M Visiting Wizards.
Mathies did not appear in person due to illness, so Board President Michael Higgins, Jr. read an e-mail sent by Mathies that day.
“A few weeks ago, I filled out the paperwork to run for school board. After further consideration, I feel I can best serve our district in my involvement with those program… For planning purposes, I wanted everyone to know that should I receive enough votes, I will not be accepting the position,” Higgins, Jr. read in open session.
Mathies may have bowed out of the election, but his name will appear on the ballots, according to Banasik.
“It’s a state law; that’s why his name still has to appear on the ballot,” Banasik said.
In a bit of irony, Mathies will appear first on the ballot, followed by Anthony and finally Maahs. Lots were drawn by the board during the meeting.
In attendance were board members Noah White, Anthony, Lonnie Achenbach, Michael Higgins, Jr., Dustin Brewer and Nick Gilberts. District Administrator Andy Banasik, Doug Morris, Tomi Gebhard-Nice and Vickie Waller were also present. Hackett was absent from the meeting.
The board will meet on Jan. 27 for a working session, primarily to look at the school’s impending operating referendum, and will meet on Feb. 10 for their next regularly scheduled board meeting.
Resignations
Rachel Zaun, Bluff View special education teacher, and Will Zeeh, food services manager.
Hires
Hope Russell, Bluff View teacher’s aide, and Heather Decot-Achenbach, Bluff View special education teacher.
Other business
• The board renewed contracts for Laura Stuckey, Gebhard-Nice, Morris, Mike Liddell, Dawn Kuchta, Eric Mumm and Banasik for one year.
• Banasik announced the school district will begin the 2025-26 school year on Sept. 2. Next month, the district calendar will be presented to the board.
• Six district employees, including Lisa Ashbacher, Marge Johnson, Janine Lucas, Michele O’Brien, Banasik and Kim Dickey, turned in preliminary retirement papers, which were due on Jan. 10. “This is for staff before 2010 who may have sick days. If they do not turn that report in, they will not be able to cash those days in.” Banasik clarified that preliminary retirement papers do not mean the employee is planning to retire.
