Lomira School Board Notes from May 13

The School District of Lomira Board of Education met on May 13
The library was packed with people attending the meeting, as the board was looking to go into a closed session to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance, including discussing the final notice of non-renewals for current staff for the 2026-27 school year.
The School Board voted 6-2 to give the final notice of non-renewal to three current staff members after returning to open session after almost two hours in closed session, which wasn’t well received by the meeting attendees who waited to hear the board’s final decision on the matter.
“These last few weeks have been really hard. I don’t agree with the decisions of the administration or the board, and yet the outpouring of love and support from the community and families here in Lomira has been amazing. I truly appreciate it. Thank you for a fantastic 24 years,” said one of the Non-Renewed Lomira Teachers, Josh James.

School Board President Ric Bloohm Statement on the Board’s Decision on the Non-Renewal
On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to address our community directly and transparently about a significant decision we have made and why we made it.
Public schools across Wisconsin are facing unprecedented budget challenges driven by a combination of an outdated and inadequate state funding formula and steadily declining student enrollment.
Lomira School District began this process by confronting a projected $1.125 million deficit for the upcoming academic year.
This shortfall has required us to make a series of difficult decisions to maintain fiscal responsibility and preserve the stability of our educational programs.
Our District has already cut supply budgets, utilized capital dollars for operational savings, reduced administrative staff, reduced printing, increased fees, provided less than the cost-of-living wage increases across our employee groups, sought shared services, reduced support staff, and rebid vendors for our most significant expenditures. We are required to do more with less.
After careful deliberation, the board has decided to reduce staffing levels for the 2026-27 school year.
The teacher’s non-renewal process has not been taken lightly; just the opposite. Every decision has been approached with the seriousness, thoughtfulness, and deep consideration for the individuals affected and the students we serve.
All members of the Board would agree that decisions involving nonrenewal have been the most difficult responsibilities we are called upon to carry.
We recognize the profound impact these decisions have on our staff, students, and community. The board remains committed to doing what is necessary to ensure the continued strength and sustainability of our school District.
On behalf of the Board of Education, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your service and dedication to our students.
School District of Lomira Administrator Ty Brietlow on School Expenditures
First and foremost, it has been stated that instructional expenditures have remained flat year over year.
While this is accurate in terms of numbers, the reasoning behind those numbers is both sound and compelling.
Our school district has been continuously addressing statewide fiscal challenges and declining enrollment.
The one-time use of pandemic relief funds created a fiscal cliff that we, and many like us, are now facing, leading to the difficult decisions that our board must address today.
To help mitigate budget shortfalls, we have relied on reducing positions through attrition, and when positions are refilled, they are often filled by less tenured, and therefore more cost-effective individuals.
Further, regarding administrative costs, I want to provide some context. When I joined the District in 2022, there was a strong and prevailing sentiment among elementary teachers that consistent administrative support across both buildings was essential.
The board recognized this need at the time and made a prudent investment in administrative staffing. I remain confident that sentiment is still widely supported.
Additionally, it is true that support staff expenditures have increased. When I arrived in the District, many of our support staff were grossly underpaid, and some needed to work multiple jobs to make a living.
Support staff is the lifeblood of our schools; they work directly in classrooms, often with our most challenging students, and are deeply involved in the day-to-day operations that ensure our students’ success.
Recognizing their value, we have made a deliberate effort to raise wages to competitive levels compared to surrounding districts. This has allowed us to attract and retain the best possible candidates for these vital roles.
To conclude, I want to emphasize that our financial records are open and transparent. I encourage anyone with questions to take the time to review the numbers and the rationale behind them.
I believe you will find that we have been highly effective in balancing fiscal responsibility with our commitment to valuing and supporting our staff. When I arrived, I promised to be an advocate for our staff, and I remain devoted to that commitment.
Lastly, I want to underscore that the challenges our board is facing today are not unique to Lomira. However, I firmly believe that we are better positioned than many other districts to address these issues. Thank you for your time. I am available to whoever wishes to find out more.
Board Matters
•School Board Officers for 2026-27: President Ric Bloohm, Vice President Ed Feucht, Clerk Brenda Michels, and Treasurer Ashley Billings.
•The School District of Lomira was named one of the Top Workplaces in the State by the Journal Sentinel for the ninth straight year.
“Congratulations to this Board, our administration, staff, and community. We are so fortunate to have such a supportive school community,” said School District of Lomira Administrator Ty Brietlow.
•School District of Lomira Administrator Ty Brieltow on Teacher Appreciation
Every May, we celebrate and honor teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week for their commitment to students.
In truth, you deserve the deepest gratitude year-round. We know you show up every single day for your students, and frankly, each other.
There are moments in this work when I am simply awestruck by what I witness in our schools: a teacher kneeling beside a student who is struggling, staying long after the last bell has rung, or quietly celebrating a breakthrough that no standardized test will ever capture. It is in those moments that I am reminded, with profound clarity, of the extraordinary people who have chosen this calling.
Teaching is truly a calling, and we are so fortunate that you have answered that call day in and day out in the School District of Lomira.
It is no secret that the job is harder than many will ever know. The challenges are real, and I do not take for granted the resilience it requires to walk back through those doors each morning, ready again.
You show up for one another in quiet, unannounced ways that build something rare and powerful: a true school-community.
When one of you flourishes, it lifts all of us. When one of you struggles, others reach in. That spirit is a gift to this organization, and it does not go unnoticed.
Please know that your efforts are seen, your sacrifices are recognized, and your dedication is the foundation upon which everything else in this district rests.
As we approach the end of another school year, be reminded that you are making a difference.
By persevering, adapting, and remaining diligent in pursuit of student success, you help our students become the best versions of themselves. Take heart in the lives you impact, the futures that you build, and the knowledge that there are so many who recognize and support the incredible work you do every day. The energy, passion, and dedication you bring each day are seen and invaluable.
On behalf of every student whose life you have shaped, every family whose hopes you have honored, and every colleague whose load you have helped carry, thank you. Truly, deeply, thank you.
•The School District of Lomira and Mayville are partnering to host a Bus Driver Hiring Event on June 5.
Date: Friday, June 5
Location: 546 N. Clark Street, Mayville, WI
Who Should Attend: Staff, Coaches, and Community Members
What’s Happening:
Join us for a Multi-District Bus Driver Training event! This 90-minute to 2-hour hands-on training session is designed for anyone interested in obtaining their bus driver’s license. Learn everything you need to know to get certified and make a difference in your community by safely transporting students.
Here is the link for those who want to register: Multi-District Bus Training
•School Board Approved Unanimously Following New Business
Property, Liability, Crime, and Workers Compensation Insurance renewal through M3 Insurance.
Agreement with Horicon School District for Occupational Therapy Services for the 2026-27 school year.
A $50.000 donation from the Michels Family Foundation for Band Uniforms for the Lomira Music Department.
Resignation of Lyndsy Schiegg, effective June 30
Resignation of Tim Zedler, effective June 30
Retirement of Jenny Verburgt, effective 30
Food Service Director Job Description
Purchase of a lawn mower from Schraufnagel Implement Inc for the amount of $17,800