The Richland School Board holds its reorganizational meeting

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis (WRCO / WRCE) – The Richland School Board held its reorganizational meeting Monday night.  District Administrator, Steve Board, administered the oath of office in public to Erin Unbehaun and Brian Miller who were elected to serve in the April election.  

Board officers were then elected. All were elected by acclamation. Erin Unbehaun as president. Scott Behling as Vice President. Brian Williams as treasurer. Sheila Troxil as clerk and Brady Doudna as acting clerk.

Also by acclamation, Erin Unbehaun was elected as the Wisconsin Association of School Boards delegate and Sheila Troxel was elected as the alternate. Scott Behling was elected to serve as the board representative to the Richland School District Foundation. Lee VanLandyt was elected as the CESA 3 Convention with Brady Doudna as the alternate.

District Administrator, Steve Board,  reported that in searching for space to run the Behavioral Academy, known as the iThrive Academy, the district has explored space at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rockbridge.  Bethlehem will not be running a Community 4K Program in 2025-26 as the Pastor and his wife, teacher at the Community 4K Program, are relocating to the Milton area.  As such, there is the opportunity to use one of the classrooms as a dedicated space for this program, while accessing some of the shared space within the church, such as the STEM room, playground, and nature trail.  The cost of the rental would be $1,500 a month, starting this Thursday (May 1).  The lease would run through June 30, 2027, and would renew unless either party terminates the lease at that time.  This space should give the district an option to conduct an alternative education program such as the Thrive Academy, with minimal financial impact.  Renovation costs would be relatively inexpensive and mostly “turnkey.” The board unanimously approved entering into the lease agreement.

Also approved Monday night:

The usage of electronic signatures on contracts and agreements for the 2025-26 school year.

The Local Government Investment Pool, Wisconsin Investment Series Cooperative, and CDs and Treasuries as directed by PMA Financial for alternative investment locations for 2025-26.

Kirk Strang, with Strang Law LLC as the legal firm for most of the legal matters in 2025-26 and empower the district administrator to use other firms as needed for special purposes.

Membership in the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiSRA)  for 2025-26.

The Richland Observer as the official newspaper.

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