Letter to the Editor of the Wrightstown Spirit
(Published March 2025)
I am trying to wrap my head around what is going on with our Wrightstown School Board. What is all the commotion really about?
Last spring the majority on the school board changed to be more fiscally inclined after many residents were, it seemed, upset about high property taxes. A big issue was “defeasance,” after being told in all the marketing leading up to the referendum there would be a 20-year repayment only to find out the district was taxing more to repay the loan early. Why would one do that? The “new school board” came in place in the 2024 spring election and stopped the defeasance (In favor: Hansen-Winker, Decker, Mollen, Nelson Against: Lemke, Van Vreede, Warner).
The new board also adopted fiscal constraint in other ways. All school projects over $50,000 are now required to go through bidding. The mill rate in 2022–2023 was $8.85 tax per $1,000 property value. The mill rate now, in 2024–2025, dropped to $5.63/$1000 and property taxes have come down. Mine dropped last year by a whopping 23%! The new school board also stopped an $18 million referendum that was being pushed by the previous superintendent, Andy Space, that included such things as a $1 million concession stand and a $3 million shed.
Further, in 2023 the district (without some of the board members knowing) moved the school resources officer from the general revenue capped fund into the uncapped community fund, raising the community’s taxes by $116,000. Due to this move the officer’s primary role was no longer defined as student safety, but instead community outreach! This whole move was caught by the new board and there was a countermove back into the capped portion of the fund, saving taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
The Biden administration in 2024 via an amendment changed the meaning of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that prohibits sex discrimination. With the Biden amendment “sex” no longer means male and female, but has an expanded meaning using the word “gender.” Confusing our children about which of 72 genders they belong to is not good for any child! With this amendment, for example boys would have the right to use girls’ locker rooms and compete in girls’ sports. The new school board stopped the amendment ( the minority of three, Lemke, Van Vreede, and Warner, voted in favor of accepting the amendment). It was said that the Wrightstown school district would not receive federal grants if it did not accept the amendment, but it turns out the Feds have never withheld any funds in these Title IX cases.
The new board has increased the public speaking time allowed per person at the school board meetings from 3 to 5 minutes and is now also video streaming the meetings, all to increase transparency and communications with the public.
The new school board has instituted a new, full time 4K program for the 2024–2025 school year, abiding by the wishes of many parents.
The criticism of this new school board — Hansen-Winker, Decker, Mollen, and Nelson (who is up for re-election on April 1) —that I hear and read about (Spirit opinion letters) is that “enough care has not been given to school children and teachers” and that the three school board members (Lemke, Van Vreede, and Warner) “continue to be dragged through the mud.” It seems to me that it is the new school board members, especially the chairperson, who are continuously being dragged through mud, via Facebook and other means! Concerning the (in my mind ridiculous) accusation of not caring for our kids, I see a lot of good done for the children and the teachers and the community, with the new school board majority leading the way!
I also read that “lawyer fees are going to bleed this district dry.” A willingness by the entire board to regularly participate in discussion of the issues (without yelling, which apparently even necessitated a police report) would certainly have decreased the need for whatever legal actions were taken. Further, the previous superintendent, Andy Space, resigned amongst some profoundly serious allegations, that some people seem to think not serious at all! Anyway, the new superintendent appears to be a class-act!
At the school board meetings that I have attended, my observation is that the lack of willingness to cooperate or discuss the issues comes mainly from the three minority members, who sit in almost complete silence, sadly displaying a very negative attitude. Still, that is a stark difference from when the meetings were not streamed to the public and there were frequent outbursts!
Chairperson Hansen-Winker, whose term ends next spring, less than a year from now, is being forced into a recall election, driven by among others the minority school board members. What will that cost our communities? I am told thousands of dollars, all tax-payer funded.
According to Wisconsin State Statutes, a school board “shall have possession, care, control and management of the property and affairs of the school district.” Going back to my initial question, it seems this whole commotion is the minority board members wanting to be back in the majority driver’s seat. If that happens, we will go back to the way things used to be and that is not a good choice for the community.
The upcoming Spring General Election on April 1st is hugely important!
We will be voting for two Wrightstown school board members. Nelson and Lemke are running for re-election. Cox and Curtis are first-time candidates. Two sides have evolved: Lemke and Curtis versus Nelson and Cox.
Also, on April 1st there is a state-wide race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction with a very clear choice between two candidates, challenger Brittany Kinser against incumbent Jill Underly.
Lastly, with enormous consequences for all of Wisconsin, voters will elect a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice/wh. Brad Schimel, the more constitutional (Attorney General under Gov. Walker), is running against the more liberal Susan Crawford (former prosecutor, current circuit court judge). Whoever wins will tip the leaning of the Court. That will have huge consequences for Wisconsin and also for the whole country!
In the November 2024 Presidential election, over 90% of eligible voters in the Town of Wrightstown voted either by absentee ballot or in person. The Town even received a trophy! However recently, in the February 18th Primary elections, despite the extra school board interest the Town didn’t even see 30% of registered voters come to the polls! Spring elections, which tend to be more local and non-partisan, are still super important!
This spring election may be even more important for Wisconsin than the November presidential election! C’mon fellow residents! Please seriously check the facts on both sides and then cast your vote in the Spring General Election on April 1st! Thank you!