By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
No one else filed candidacy papers during the extended deadline for the East Troy Community School District Board of Education, so the race for the three seats has four candidates, Administrator Chris Hibner said at Jan. 11 School Board meeting.
On the ballot for the April 5 Spring General Election for School Board will be board President Ted Zess, Vice-president Dawn Buchholtz and newcomers Sue Frohling and Anthony “Tony” LaShay.
The deadline for filing had been extended until 5 p.m. on Jan. 8 because board member Mike Zei did not file nomination papers or papers on non-candidacy.
There will not be a primary election in the School Board race.
The board accepted the resignation of Prairie View Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Theresa McNaught at the Jan. 11 meeting. McNaught has taught in the district for 31 years and will be retiring at the end of the school year.
Board member Steve Lambrechts asked why the agenda item for discussion and possible action on the resignation didn’t read “retirement” when a teacher was in fact retiring from the district and not leaving for another reason. He said he was concerned that “teacher resignation” might have people wondering why the person was leaving, and it might reflect poorly on the district when it didn’t need to.
Hibner said they could do that in the future if the board wished it.
The board also approved bonus for the bus drivers in the district. Business Manager Kathy Zwirgzdas said the little extra money, about $100 per driver, was helping the district retain and even attract drivers, which was a good thing since they were “tight” with the staff of drivers.
The board also listened to a presentation from the independent CPA, Jim Frechette, who does the district’s annual audit. He said the district’s fund balance was healthy at $3.4 million and had been increasing at the rate of about $250,000 a year, which was good. He also commended Zwirgzdas for her work.
Copies of his report are available at the district office, 2043 Division St.
