MONROE - While some hopefuls look to fill seats on their local school board in the spring election, other familiar names will no longer be listed for voters to choose between on the April ballot.
One notable departure will be Bob Erb, who has served as a member and most recently president of the Monroe district school board. He began in 2006. Though he has enjoyed his time on the board, a recent promotion to chief financial officer at Colony Brands Inc. has left little time for him outside of the company.
"There's certainly more on my plate and responsibility that goes into that," Erb said. "I'm glad to have served and I think we as a board and as a district have done a lot."
He noted that he began his time on the board during financial hardship for the district and while he has served, the board "has done a lot to restore financial trust" and members have "done a lot to advance achievement" of students, which he feels should be their main priority. He also said he encourages anyone with "the time and the passion" to work on the board should do so.
"I always say the students of today are our residents of tomorrow," Erb said, adding that quality education makes the community a better place over time.
In Argyle, long-serving board members are also stepping down. Loren Bruehlman has served for 15 years, but elected to file non-candidacy papers this year. Shelley Welch, district administrative assistant, said the choice was likely because Bruehlman's daughter is graduating in May. Lee Montgomery has been on the board for nine years and will also not seek re-election.
Other districts face the more difficult choice of deciding between established representatives and new candidates.
Albany
Two seats are up for grabs in the race for Albany School Board. They belong to incumbents Adam Kopp and Sherri Cleasby. Each will run for re-election unopposed.
Argyle
Three seats are open, but no incumbents are looking to regain their seats as Loren Bruehlman, Lee Montgomery and Stan Bigelow all filed papers of non-candidacy. Instead, candidates Michelle Godfrey, John Leigh and Jonathon Stoeger look to be the newest faces on the Argyle School Board.
Black Hawk
Three seats are open on the district board, that of incumbents Jimmy Rufenacht, clerk Jason Figi and president Kerry Holland. Rufenacht will not be seeking re-election. However, Superintendent Willy Chambers said new candidate Alicia Sigafus will be running for a spot on the board.
Brodhead
A new candidate has decided to take one of the two open seats on the Brodhead School Board in April, despite both incumbents looking to refill their current spots. Abbey Wellemeyer and Mike Krupke are running for re-election. Chad Risum has never run for a place on the board before, but looks to overtake either Wellemeyer or Krupke for a seat in the spring election.
Darlington
Clerk Teresa Siegenthaler certified the names of each candidate for the board during its meeting Jan. 2. Four seats are open. Because R.J. Brunkow was appointed and sworn in Dec. 18, one of the seats will be a one-year term. The candidate who receives the lowest number of votes would be seeking re-election again in 2019. President Aaron Wolfe, Bob Hermanson and Joe Riechers are all incumbents running for their seats. Colleen Reichling is a new candidate for the board.
Juda
Incumbents vice president Eric Makos and president Dennis Pfingsten are looking to retain their seats, but Joanne Goecks has declared papers of non-candidacy. However, there will be a familiar name on the ballot in her place. Former board member Suzanne Trotter has declared candidacy for a spot on the board.
Monroe
An open seat will remain that way as Monroe school board president Bob Erb has decided to step down from his seat. Vice president Mary Berger and deputy clerk Amy Bazley, both incumbents, are running for their seats. District Administrative Assistant Cindy Rupnow said the spot could be filled by a write-in candidate, but no name will be listed on the ballot.
Monticello
The Monticello Board of Education election looks to be simple. Incumbents Ronald Blumer, Julie Havens and Tyler Smith are all up for re-election and each have filed to run once more. There are no other candidates for the board.
New Glarus
Three open seats will likely be filled by three candidates. Though incumbent Ellyn Runde has declared she will step down from the board, new candidate Jessica Geib is vying for a seat in the April election, alongside incumbents Kari Morrison and Travis Zimmerman.
Pecatonica
With three open seats, the Pecatonica school board election should be relatively simple for voters. All incumbents, Roy Ruegsegger, Jill Gaskell and Marissa Theorin are running for their seats unopposed.
One notable departure will be Bob Erb, who has served as a member and most recently president of the Monroe district school board. He began in 2006. Though he has enjoyed his time on the board, a recent promotion to chief financial officer at Colony Brands Inc. has left little time for him outside of the company.
"There's certainly more on my plate and responsibility that goes into that," Erb said. "I'm glad to have served and I think we as a board and as a district have done a lot."
He noted that he began his time on the board during financial hardship for the district and while he has served, the board "has done a lot to restore financial trust" and members have "done a lot to advance achievement" of students, which he feels should be their main priority. He also said he encourages anyone with "the time and the passion" to work on the board should do so.
"I always say the students of today are our residents of tomorrow," Erb said, adding that quality education makes the community a better place over time.
In Argyle, long-serving board members are also stepping down. Loren Bruehlman has served for 15 years, but elected to file non-candidacy papers this year. Shelley Welch, district administrative assistant, said the choice was likely because Bruehlman's daughter is graduating in May. Lee Montgomery has been on the board for nine years and will also not seek re-election.
Other districts face the more difficult choice of deciding between established representatives and new candidates.
Albany
Two seats are up for grabs in the race for Albany School Board. They belong to incumbents Adam Kopp and Sherri Cleasby. Each will run for re-election unopposed.
Argyle
Three seats are open, but no incumbents are looking to regain their seats as Loren Bruehlman, Lee Montgomery and Stan Bigelow all filed papers of non-candidacy. Instead, candidates Michelle Godfrey, John Leigh and Jonathon Stoeger look to be the newest faces on the Argyle School Board.
Black Hawk
Three seats are open on the district board, that of incumbents Jimmy Rufenacht, clerk Jason Figi and president Kerry Holland. Rufenacht will not be seeking re-election. However, Superintendent Willy Chambers said new candidate Alicia Sigafus will be running for a spot on the board.
Brodhead
A new candidate has decided to take one of the two open seats on the Brodhead School Board in April, despite both incumbents looking to refill their current spots. Abbey Wellemeyer and Mike Krupke are running for re-election. Chad Risum has never run for a place on the board before, but looks to overtake either Wellemeyer or Krupke for a seat in the spring election.
Darlington
Clerk Teresa Siegenthaler certified the names of each candidate for the board during its meeting Jan. 2. Four seats are open. Because R.J. Brunkow was appointed and sworn in Dec. 18, one of the seats will be a one-year term. The candidate who receives the lowest number of votes would be seeking re-election again in 2019. President Aaron Wolfe, Bob Hermanson and Joe Riechers are all incumbents running for their seats. Colleen Reichling is a new candidate for the board.
Juda
Incumbents vice president Eric Makos and president Dennis Pfingsten are looking to retain their seats, but Joanne Goecks has declared papers of non-candidacy. However, there will be a familiar name on the ballot in her place. Former board member Suzanne Trotter has declared candidacy for a spot on the board.
Monroe
An open seat will remain that way as Monroe school board president Bob Erb has decided to step down from his seat. Vice president Mary Berger and deputy clerk Amy Bazley, both incumbents, are running for their seats. District Administrative Assistant Cindy Rupnow said the spot could be filled by a write-in candidate, but no name will be listed on the ballot.
Monticello
The Monticello Board of Education election looks to be simple. Incumbents Ronald Blumer, Julie Havens and Tyler Smith are all up for re-election and each have filed to run once more. There are no other candidates for the board.
New Glarus
Three open seats will likely be filled by three candidates. Though incumbent Ellyn Runde has declared she will step down from the board, new candidate Jessica Geib is vying for a seat in the April election, alongside incumbents Kari Morrison and Travis Zimmerman.
Pecatonica
With three open seats, the Pecatonica school board election should be relatively simple for voters. All incumbents, Roy Ruegsegger, Jill Gaskell and Marissa Theorin are running for their seats unopposed.