School board approves contract for crosswalk
Mallory McCullick
By Steve Van Kooten
The Wauzeka-Steuben Board of Education remained unchanged after the spring elections held on April 1.
At their April 21 meeting — the first since the election — the board acknowledged the election results and assigned roles for its members.
Nikki Asleson as president, Jessie Bird as vice president, Tom Martin as clerk, Ken Buck as treasurer and Brandon Millin as a board member.
Martin and Millin ran for reelection to the board, while Asleson ran as a write-in candidate. Martin and Millin will serve three-year terms, while Asleson will serve a two-year term.
The board may not have changed, but they did approve a new district administrator during the meeting, according to Interim Administrator Dr. Gary Albrecht.
Dr. Dan Olson will replace Interim District Administrator Dr. Gary Albrecht starting on July 1. Olson was the superintendent for the Monona Grove School District for 11 years. He was selected as the Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year in 2024.
Olson previously retired from Monona Grove in June 2024.
Crosswalk
The board awarded the crosswalk project to Poellinger, Inc., out of La Crosse. The district only received one bid.
"The entire bid from them was $60,571," said Jeremy Krachey from Team Engineering. "That's with every option we had out there for solar and everything."
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will provide $38,400 of the cost through the Transportation Alternative Program grant. The district will pay for the entire project cost and submit a claim for reimbursement for the DOT's portion.
"So, you'll be on the hook for essentially $22,171.66, assuming we move ahead with everything," added Krachey.
Krachey suggested the district could reduce costs for the project by having someone besides the contractor remove a 5x5 square feet of concrete sidewalk.
"If the school wanted to get somebody to do that, I'm guessing you're going to get somebody to do that a lot cheaper than what the contractor is doing that for," he said.
The quote from the contractor for that part of the project is $6,500.
He reviewed other potential cost savings for the board to consider, including changing the project's power source from solar to direct electric.
Krachey said the board only needed to approve the contractor bid, and further negotiations on costs and services for the work could proceed thereafter.
This past August, Krachey conducted a public information meeting for the crosswalk that will be placed on Wisconsin 60.
The project will include two advanced-warning stands with lighted beacons. One will be at the highway's intersection with Talbot Street, and the other will be along WI-60.
The beacons will only be illuminated when the crosswalk is active.
Skills and FBLA
Albrecht commended the school's Future Business Leaders of America and SkillsUSA chapters for their performances over the past few months.
Tom Martin recognized Mallory McCullick as the school's first SkillsUSA officer.
"That takes a lot of initiative," said Martin. "She'll be promoting here in southwest Wisconsin, and it's great to see Wauzeka-Steuben out front."
In attendance were Asleson, Bird, Buck, Martin and Millin. Albrecht, principal Tiffany Dums, Kevin Kilburg and Jeff Mara were also present.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 19.
Resignations
Kirsten Reichmann, varsity volleyball coach; Perry Leffler, music instructor; and Crystal Krachey, administrative assistant.
Other business
• Athletic Director Austin Bunders said the Booster Club is interested in paying for new branding decals for the six exterior athletic doors at the Hornet's Nest.
