Prairie du Chien Board of Education tables moving grades
[update: The article incorrectly states that the board of education will hold an operating referendum working session on Feb. 24. The meeting will not take place, and the next regular board meeting is still on Mar. 10.]
By Steve Van Kooten
One word can describe the Prairie du Chien School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 10: uncertainty.
During the meeting, which took place in the high school’s Little Theater, the board chose to table numerous items from their agenda, including the proposed relocation of grades 6-8 from the Bluff View Intermediate School to the high school building, the district calendar for the 2025–26 school year, and proposed cuts to the district’s budget.
Board President Higgins, Jr. said that the board would not make any decisions regarding the possible relocation of grades 6-8 from Bluff View, saying the board is “still gathering information.”
One part of the board’s information gathering will include a visit to a career and technical education program in Whitehall.The board announced that there would be a site visit to Whitehall School District, which is approximately one hour north of La Crosse. Banasik said the high school has around 200 students, and 500 students signed up for programs through their CTE.
High School and Middle School Principal Doug Morris said, “Until we are more definitive on which reductions [will happen], there’s not really an update. We know that we will have enough room available to house everybody.”
Two community members spoke to the board about ongoing concerns with moving students to the high school, and requests were made to refrain from approving the change, especially if the high school building can accommodate the district’s planned CTE programming.
Along with the operating referendum, the district’s health insurance costs and possible reductions to the staff and programming, uncertainty loomed over next year’s district calendar.
During the meeting, Michelle Kirchman, who currently teaches seventh grade ELA and has resided in the school district since 1976, spoke to the board and suggested changes for next year’s calendar.
Kirchman claimed that her suggestions were “no-cost fixes.”
Kirchman requested the board reduce the total number of school hours during the year. Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction requires 1,137 for grades 7–12, 1,050 for grades 1–6, and 437 hours for kindergarten. She said Prairie du Chien currently uses around 1,267 hours.
The school district has not verified if that number is accurate.
She also requested that the calendar add at least one forgiven snow day during the school year and incorporate makeup days into the school year instead of adding them to the end of the year.
Another request was for the board to reduce the school day by at least 10 minutes.
Kirchman said the decreased time during the day would help students’ “mental and academic awareness,” claiming that students are burnt out by the end of the day. She suggested that the reduction would allow more time for sports practices, after-school programs, flex time, and family time, among other benefits for both students and faculty.
“It’s time for the parents and the students and the teachers to see the willingness of the board and the administration to compromise and to show their support through their actions,” Kirchman said.
The board tabled the district’s proposed 2025-26 calendar after two motions were made, with neither receiving a second. One motion was made to approve the calendar presented by District Administrator Andy Banasik, while another proposed to shorten the school day by ten minutes and cut five days from the calendar.
The next regular school board meeting is Mar. 10 at 5:30 p.m., and the district has a working session for the operating referendum scheduled for Feb. 24.
In attendance were board members Michael Higgins, Jr., Nick Gilberts, Lacie Anthony, Dustin Brewer, Lonnie Achenbach and Noah White. Banasik, Vicki Waller, and the district’s four principals were also in attendance. Jim Hackett was absent.
Hires
Nancy Cooper, substitute teacher; Riley Kieler, substitute teacher; and Brad Gillitzer, substitute teacher.
Resignations
Will Zeeh, food services director, and Andrew Waller, JV baseball coach.
Other business
• Halei Heinzel, the current Alice in Dairyland, will be at Bluff View Intermediate School on Thursday, Feb. 20, to promote the 78th Alice in Dairyland Finals, which will take place in Crawford County on May 15-27.
• Allison Mathies, a junior, was named a presidential scholar and National Merit Scholarship finalist. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes students who display leadership qualities and scholastic ability.
• A community survey is expected to come out next week for the operating referendum. The school has teamed with CESA 3 to promote the referendum throughout the school district.
