Athens K-12 to re-evaluate fee schedule

By Casey Krautkramer

Upon reconvening from closed session Monday, the Athens Board of Education voted unanimously to re-evaluate the school district’s facility use fee schedule. Board members discussed the facility fees policy in closed session even though it wasn’t on the meeting agenda.

The discussion was in response to Athens volunteer 10U baseball coach Matt Woller speaking during the public comment period at Monday’s meeting about his concerns with the district charging youth sports to use its fields and gymnasiums.

The district’s facility use fee schedule can be found by going to the district website at www.athens.k12.wi.us and clicking on the dropdown menu for “RSchool Facilities & Scheduling.” The school board enacted this

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fee schedule to allow the district to earn extra revenue so it can remain solvent in the future.

Woller told the school board he received an invoice e-mailed to him on April 5 from Beth Steinke, the district’s business office manager, for his youth baseball team’s use of the district-owned field on CTH M. He told the board that he and other Athens volunteer coaches were not aware of the school district’s new facility use fee schedule. He said he refuses to pay for the invoice or any future invoices because he feels it’s “ridiculous” that the district is now charging youth sports to use the fields and gymnasiums.

“I think we are going down a very slippery slope,” Woller said Monday. “I think if we continue to charge youth for the use of fields and gymnasiums then I’m waiting for the toll booth or turn gate to be installed with a credit card machine by the track for all the community members that I see walking on the track. There is no difference between what the youth does on the fields or what the community members use the track for. Again, I think we are going down a slippery slope.”

“Please note that the majority of the fields the school district has are because of the generous community members, businesses and volunteers that have donated materials, time, energy and knowledge, and it’s volunteers such as myself and other coaches that keep these fields in the condition they are in. Again, I think we are going down a slippery slope. I strongly ask the school board to take action on this policy. If no action is taken and the school board agrees that this policy is the right one, then I’ll leave this with this: The community and school district adopted a slogan years ago of ‘One town, One team, One dream’ and it’s starting to feel like we aren’t one town anymore and we aren’t one team and that the school district has a different dream than the community members had.”

Other business

n The board reconvened from closed into open session to unanimously approve teacher contracts and letters of intent to bring back support staff for the 2024-25 school year.

n Head varsity volleyball coach Tanille Hartwig spoke during the public comments period, telling board members that she and other Athens sports coaches feel the district is not supporting them.

“As a coach, I feel disposable,” she said. “In conversations, I know other coaches feel the same way but they are scared to come forward in fear of the repercussions they may experience. I recently tried to get the high school head and assistant coaches together for a meeting to discuss concerns to be brought to the board’s attention. I received many replies back, stating that they agree that there is a problem; however, only two agreed to meet with me. Those two are not employed by the district for their fulltime jobs. Those two openly admitted they are scared that by coming forward, they will paint a target on their backs. It is so sad but I can’t blame them.”

“In a recent situation, a head coach was denied an assistant coaching contract because of false accusations. When requesting to meet with school administration or the board, this coach was denied that opportunity. How can we possibly feel supported when we are not even given the respect to be heard and talked to like human beings? I strongly believe that if you want to see change, you must be willing to share your concerns with those who can make a difference. That is you, the school board. You are all members of this community and many of you have walked in these same halls as students. Please start asking the tough questions.”

n The board approved the hiring of Bill Schug as an Athens Middle School baseball coach, and voted to reduce school counselor Karissa Denton’s full-time employment to part-time next school year, at her request.

n Superintendent Andrea Sheridan said the public can access survey results from parent, staff and students on the school website at www.athens1.org under explore/documents/ agendas and minutes. She said there are varying results from a new survey question. Survey results found that only 32 percent of students felt that school rules applied equally to all students, compared to 43 percent of staff and 68 percent of parents who answered the question.

n The board held its election of officers and appointments of committee and representative positions, following the spring election. Tim Krueger is president, Steve Janke vice president, Jessica Frahm clerk and Thomas A. Ellenbecker treasurer. The district didn’t fill the role of deputy clerk after Bev Braun retired, and it’ll research more information on this position. The deputy clerk works with Kim Trueblood, Marathon County clerk, to handle school board election documentation.

Lori Haines is in the midst of serving a three-year term as the district’s representative on the Marathon County Special Education Board. Tucker Diethelm will be the school board’s CESA 9 representative. Krueger will represent the school board on the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) and Angie Servi is the alternate.

n Athens Middle School will hold its spring band and choir concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 6, in the high school gym, while the high school will hold its spring band and choir concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. The middle school music awards program is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, followed by the high school music awards program at 7:30 p.m. Athens High School graduation is at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in the high school gym.

Matt Woller