School board look at student numbers ahead of referendum

By Steve Van Kooten

The Prairie du Chien Board of Education convened for their last regular meeting before the November elections, which will allow residents in the district to vote on a four-year, $10 million operating referendum for the school district.

In attendance were board members Lonnie Achenbach, Michael Higgins, Jr., Dustin Brewer, Noah White, Lacie Anthony and Nick Gilberts. District Administrator Andy Banasik, Vicki Waller and the school’s three principals were also present. Board Member Jim Hackett was absent.

Banasik reviewed the third Friday numbers, which is the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s count of students enrolled in a public school district. The numbers are significant because they are used to determine funding the district will receive from the state government.

For the 2024-25 school year, Prairie du Chien School District has 891 face-to-face students in total. The district does get a boost from Mighty River, which brings their total enrollment to 914. The numbers show a downward trend for the school district, which is projected to have fewer than 850 students within the next four years.

“We’re still over 900 because of what we do online,” said Banasik. “We’re still on that trend. We talked about that 830 range around 2028 that will hopefully plateau right there.”

Banasik added that the school’s 4K numbers were lower than expected. Before the summer, the district expected around 60 students to enter the program, but that number dropped to 50 by August. Currently, there are 44 students in the 4K program.

Last year, the district had 11 students in the 3K program, which means it gained 33 students; however, Banasik said it still means the district had a significant drop in enrollment because the outgoing senior class (83) was nearly double the size of the incoming 4K class.

Banasik confirmed that the referendum presentation has been updated to reflect the third Friday count. The informational meetings about the school’s proposed operating referendum were on October 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Eastman Community Building, on October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the PAAC and on October 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the City of Prairie du Chien Fire Department.

Soccer co-op

The board approved the boys and girls soccer co-op, which will start with the boys’ 2025 soccer season. The new co-op agreement will affect the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years.

Four schools will be involved in the co-op: Youth Initiative (Viroqua), Seneca, Wauzeka-Steuben and Prairie du Chien. River Ridge is currently a member but will not participate after the 2024 girls’ season next spring.

Youth Initiative is approximately 45 minutes from Prairie du Chien, according to Banasik. All students on the team will commute to Prairie for group practices. Viroqua is exploring options for a volunteer or paid assistant soccer coach to work with students at their home location for part of the week.

“We know we have to work through some things with the travel, but we are very open to the possibilities,” said Banasik.

The boys’ program currently has 10 players, with one on the sidelines due to injury. The girls’ program is in similar straits.

“This spring, we’re right on that bubble with 10-11 girls,” said Banasik. “With that, we keep recruiting and try to have a couple substitutes for them. If we can get this co-op going in the right direction, hopefully we’ll get some numbers to help us a little bit.”

Projects and Trump

Banasik provided updates about the school’s roofing project and obtaining payment from the Donald Trump campaign for his use of the PAAC on September 28.

For the PAAC construction project, Banasik said the actual roof is completed; however, they are still waiting for outside access ladders to be installed.

“They’re not here yet, so they [contractors] have not received the final payment for the project,” he said. “The roof is done but the ladders are not there.”

He added that the ladders have been backordered “a couple of times” during the project.

On pursuing payment for Trump’s use of the PAAC, Banasik said, “I’ve gotten a lot of emails and phone calls wondering if we sent bills to them. Yes, we’ve sent a bill to them. We’ve received our money to start with that, and now we’re just working to pick up that second half of the bill.”

The next regular board of education meeting is scheduled for November 11.

Hires

Skyler Reynolds, 5th grade boys basketball coach; Alyssa Davis, 7th grade girls basketball coach; Amber Lenzendorf, middle/high school forensics advisor; Randy Schneider, junior-varsity boys basketball coach.

Resignations

Michelle Kirchman, middle school forensics advisor; Julie Mezera, Bluff View teacher’s aide; Stephen Ronnfeldt, assistant middle school wrestling coach.

Other business

• The school district will hold its annual budget meeting on October 28 at 5:30 p.m.

• The high school will host a Veteran’s Day ceremony on November 11 and a Red Cross blood drive on November 15.

• Banasik said the presentation at the PAAC will be recorded and posted to the school’s website.

• approved the 2024 crisis response plan for the district.