Board opts to explore possible after-school program, 3K
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education voted to continue exploring two pilot programs for B.A. Kennedy at their June 9 meeting.
B.A. Kennedy Principal Laura Stuckey led a presentation for the after-school and 3K proposals.
“There are a lot of questions yet, but before we go through and figure out all of that nitty-gritty, we need to know where this stands — is there interest in pursuing this further or not,” she said.
Stuckey said that the district’s goal for both programs is to pilot sustainable, tuition-based options for community families that provide a safe, socially conducive environment for students.
The district sent out an online survey to the community to gauge interest for both options. The school received 45 responses, and respondents only had to answer questions that were relevant to them.
Stuckey provided the survey data to the Courier Press and said that anybody interested can review the survey results by contacting the school district.
According to the aggregated data, 72.7 percent (32) of respondents expressed an interest in after-school programming. The program would be offered to B.A. Kennedy students as an extension of the school day.
The survey shows that most respondents want an after-school program on Mondays (29 of 32 respondents) and Tuesdays (31 of 32). Fridays had significantly lower interest (20 respondents).
“That’s what the data indicated: there’s much less need on Fridays,” said Stuckey.
Of 32 respondents, 17 indicated that they would prefer the programming to last until 5 p.m. The majority of other respondents either chose 4:30 or 5:30.
When asked how much families are be able or willing to pay for the program, more than half favored $2 per hour, with support dropping off for amounts above $4.
The proposal given to the board would serve as many as 36 students and run from Monday through Thursday until 5 p.m., with a $30 weekly tuition for participating students.
If 36 students entered the program, the tuition would generate close to $39,000. The total revenue is approximately $28,000 with 26 students.
The estimated total cost for the program based on 36 students would be approximately $26,000 for the 2025-26 school year. Program expenses include staffing, a daily snack for the students and supplies.
Stuckey said that it would be run as a school program, which may allow the school to access grant money in the future.
Some of the board members stressed that the program’s sustainability is an important consideration.
“We wanted this to be solvent because we didn’t feel good cutting programs and then adding this program to the taxpayers’ cost,” said Lonnie Achenbach. “We lost 45 students in one year in our district, so this is a way to try and help that. It’s a way to try and get enrollment up… we don’t want to add a programming cost to the district.”
The district is struggling with declining enrollment. Prairie du Chien graduated 77 students in 2025, and for this coming fall, the 4K program only has 32 students signed up.
“We are exploring innovative ways to connect young children with our school district at an early age,” District Administrator Andy Banasik later told the Courier Press. “We are trying to be innovative without the cost to our taxpayers.”
The board and community brought up several concerns for the program, including retaining enough student participants to make it sustainable, finding consistent staffing for the program’s needs, facilities for the students if B.A. Kennedy is closed in the future and what effect the program would have on other day cares and after-school programs.
“There are things we still need to work out. So far, we’ve worked on cost and mostly structural things,” said Stuckey.
She pointed out that the community struggles with day care options and program availability.
“I think that’s the bigger question: what is the availability?” Michael Higgins, Jr., said. “I know we’ve heard that a number of private day cares have closed; we know that there are fewer options. We heard that through the community survey as a focus that we need.”
Higgins, Jr. suggested the program might affect similar services, but it could help people who are unable to access a care provider.
The district set an end goal date of Aug. 1 to determine whether the programs have enough students and staff to move forward.
The board approved moving the proposal forward to see if there is enough interest to fulfill staff and student requirements for the program.
3K program
The survey data showed that 16 of 40 respondents indicated they would be interested in a 3K program for the 2025–26 school year. All of the interested responses expressed an interest in a five-days-per-week program.
The majority of positive respondents (13) favored a full-school-day program, and more than half said they would be able and willing to pay up to $4 per hour for the services.
Stuckey presented a cost analysis with scenarios based on different staffing and tuition fees, ranging from $40 to $60 per day.
She added that the program “does not have an answer right now” for families that cannot afford the tuition; however, options may exist in the future once the program is established.
“One of the questions asked by the finance committee was, where is the line?” said Stuckey. “It becomes a question of what if you have 12 students that sign up, and three of them back out midway through. How do you handle that? The only response I have for that is the same as after school: we have to be transparent with parents [that] are signing up for this. You may get a two-week notice or whatever that notice is determined to be. That could happen to any of us at any time.”
According to the presentation, the goal is to provide the board with an update next month and bring forth a final answer in August.
“Either we’ve met with students, and we have staff members for you to approve, or we don’t,” she said.
The board approved the 3K program “concept” to continue developing a pilot program with 10 students at $50 per day.
The next board meeting is scheduled for July 14.
In attendance were board members Michael Higgins, Jr., Noah White, Nick Gilberts, Dustin Brewer, Kyle Maahs, Achenbach and Lacie Anthony. Banasik and the school’s three principals were also present.
Hires
Kennedy Kirschbaum, 4th grade teacher; Jackie Rodenberg, 5/6th grade volleyball coach; Angie DuCharme, B.A. Kennedy nurse assistant teacher’s aide; Emily Schwoerer, Bluffview Middle School science teacher; and Paige Gillitzer, head volleyball coach.
Resignations
Jessica Swiggum, K-6th social studies teacher and 8th grade volleyball coach; Marissa Gould, 5th grade teacher; Dana Jordie, teacher’s aide; Brent Waller, teacher’s aide; Erin Amdahl, teacher’s aide; Kellie Kramer, 1st grade teacher; Michelle Kirchman, 7th grade ELA teacher; and Aaron Amundson, assistant football coach.
Other business
• The district will have its annual CESA 3 meeting on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m., and the summer musical will take place on July 24 at 6:30 p.m.
• The board reviewed four open positions, announcing the hiring of Kevin Campbell as the head football coach. Campbell served as the team’s offensive coordinator.
• The board approved two contracts: a three-year agreement with Lifeline Audio Maintenance for $11,394 and the other for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for $5,125.
Board organizes district administration for next school year
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education made changes to the district’s administration during a special board meeting on the evening of June 16.
District Administrator presented the board with three options, which variably assigned the high school and principal roles between Assistant Principal Eric Mumm, Banasik and Bluff View Intermediate School Principal Tomi Gebhard-Nice.
Banasik said the hiring committee received nine applications for administrative positions and interviewed five of them.
In the first scenario, Mumm would be the high school principal, and the current Dean of Students Skyler Reynolds would move to the middle school principal position.
The second scenario kept Mumm at the high school and assigned middle school duties to Gebhard-Nice. Reynolds would continue as the dean of students.
The last option had Mumm and Banasik each taking one of the principal positions. Banasik would then step away from his position as the athletic director. The board would reconvene in January to assess the adminstrative situation.
The board approved Mumm as the new middle school principal, Banasik as the high school principal and superintendent and Sara Godfrey as the associate athletics director.
In attendance were Nick Gilberts, Michael Higgins, Jr., Noah White, Kyle Maahs, Dustin Brewer and Lacie Anthony. Banasik was also in attendance. Lonnie Achenbach was absent.
