By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
Ashwaubenon school board extends bus contract with Lamers
ASHWAUBENON – The contract the Ashwaubenon School District has with Lamers for bus service will continue through the 2024-25 school year.
The Ashwaubenon school board agreed Wednesday, June 12, to extend the contract another year to continue a six-year rolling agreement with the bus company.
Along with that extension, the busing rates for 2020-21 will increase by 2.5 percent, on top of the 2.5 percent hike previously approved for 2019-20.
District Business Director Keith Lucius said district has a “wonderful partnership” with Lamers for bus service.
“They work very well with us, all the way around,” Lucius said. “Their safety record is impeccable.”
Lucius called the 2.5 increase for bus service “very fair” and will help in the company’s hiring and retention of drivers.
“We’re better off when they have good drivers and can keep good drivers,” he said.
In his report to the board, Lucius said a 2.5 increase for 2020-21 is in line with what other school districts are experiencing.
He also noted having a six-year rolling contract with Lamers allows the company to finance equipment replacement and maintenance in a cost-effective manner.
Based on the district’s annual costs for transportation being around $1 million, Lucius said the 2.5 percent hike will result in an estimated increase of $27,000.
Board approves new AHS associate principal among staff hires
The hiring of Cassandra Schneider as the associate high school principal for the 2019-20 school year was formally approved among a series of new hires Wednesday, June 12, by the Ashwaubenon school board.
Schneider, who has been a math teacher at AHS, will become the associate principal after the person now holding that position, Dirk Ribbens, takes over July 1 as AHS principal to replace the retiring Brian Nelsen.
A kindergarten teacher at the Cormier School and Early Learning Center who had faced a layoff will be returning as a full-time teacher for the next school year.
A month after board members issued a final layoff notice to Allison Sudol for a half-time position, they agreed to hire her full-time for 2019-20 due to a retirement creating a vacancy.
Matthew Martin has been hired as a high school mathematics teacher for 2019-20 with the position having been vacant due to a transfer to another position in the district.
The board also approved hiring Tracy Everetts as a full-time educational associate/attendance clerk for the next school year at AHS. The position had been vacant due to a retirement.
Farah retiring
The district’s child nutrition coordinator is going to retire right before Christmas.
The board approved the retirement request of Betsy Farah, effective Dec. 21.
Two elementary school teachers have resigned.
Board members accepted the resignations of Pioneer first-grade teacher Sara Beschta and Valley View second-grade teacher Michelle Loewenhagan, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.