BOARD OF EDUCATION
2024-2025
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Audit of the Bills
Jon Creisher, Chair
Cory Sillars, Committee Member
Jennifer Paoli, Committee Member
Lance Trollop, Committee Member

James Bouché
President
(04-28-25)
jbouche@wausauschools.org
Cell: 715-614-8136

Lance Trollop
Vice President
(04-26-26)
ltrollop@wausauschools.org
Res: 715-848-0706
Bus: 715-849-3200

Jennifer Paoli
Clerk
(04-26-26)
jpaoli@wausauschools.org
715-846-5392

Sarah Brock
(4-26-2027)
sbrock@wausauschools.org
603-521-2967

Joanna Reyes
(04-28-25)
jreyes@wausauschools.org
Cell: 715-881-9935

Jane Rusch
(4-26-2027)
jrusch@wausauschools.org
Cell: 715-551-2740

Board Meetings

Regular meetings of the Wausau Board of Education are held on the second Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Nicholson Board Room of the Longfellow Administration Center, 415 Seymour Street, unless posted otherwise. Special meetings are also called when necessary. All meeting notices are announced to local media. The Board of Education serves the public and all of its meetings, including committee meetings, are open to the community. Public attendance and input are encouraged by the Board of Education.

State law permits the Board to go into closed session only to discuss personnel matters, property acquisition, consult with attorneys, etc. These sessions must be posted and all action taken must conform with the requirements of the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law, Stat. 19.85.

Board meeting agendas are posted at the Longfellow Administration Center and on the District’s website at least 24 hours before a scheduled meeting. Special provisions apply in case of an emergency meeting.

Order of Business

The order of business at a regular meeting of the Wausau Board of Education usually is as follows:

• Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
• Excellence in Action
• Open Forum
• Consent Agenda: Approve minutes, staffing, payment of bills, and donations to the District
• Old/Recurring Business
• New Business
• Committee Board Referrals
• Open Forum
• Closed Session, if necessary
• Adjournment

The Board of Education

The Wausau Board of Education consists of 9 community members elected by the citizens of the District. Board members are elected at-large and serve overlapping terms of 3 years. Board members receive a yearly salary established at the District's Annual Meeting.

The School Board acts to establish policies that govern the operation of the Wausau School District. It has final control over local school matters limited by the state legislature, the courts, and the will of the people as expressed in School District elections.

The Board of Education takes action on matters only in formal session with a majority of members present. The Board President serves as the spokesperson for the School Board’s position on all items related to our public schools.

The Superintendent of Schools

The Board of Education is empowered to select the Superintendent of Schools as its chief executive officer to administer the operations of the schools. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to bring reports and recommendations on the work of the School District to the Board.

The Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools serves as Secretary to the School Board as well as Deputy Clerk.

Board Committees

There are two standing committees, one is a committee of the whole for the School Board. The committees are: Education/Operations, and the Audit of the Bills Committee. The makeup of each committee is determined by the School Board President. The President also determines the chairperson of each committee and serves as an ex officio member of the committees. Committee meetings are held to provide greater opportunities for in-depth study of programs. State statutes require that each School Board committee meeting be posted in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law, Stat. 19.85. Committee meetings of the Board of Education are open to the public. Periodically, the Board may establish ad hoc committees for a specific task. These meetings are also posted in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law.

The Board’s role is to establish policies and procedures for the District. The Board’s role is not implementation of policies and procedures. The Board possesses duties as it relates to visibility, communication with the public and community outreach. The school board liaison role is one method to assist the Board in engaging directly with the community and improve communication. The school board liaison is not an advocates for specific buildings or issues, but rather serves to ensure that Board members have an opportunity to listen to and communicate with constituents on a regular basis.

Each school shall have one (1) assigned school board member serve as liaison for the academic year.

School Visits: Board members should make an effort to attend school functions. Where possible, the board member should alert the school principal in advance of his or her attendance. Board members who are not assigned liaisons to schools, but desire to attend a function at the school are encouraged to attend. In those instances, where possible, the unassigned Board member should alert the principal in advance of his or her attendance. Principals are encouraged to contact their liaison or the Board Secretary with invitations to school events.

School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) Meetings: Board member liaisons must take initiative in communicating with school principals and school PTO presidents. Board member liaisons should make themselves available to attend a PTO meeting of the assigned school at least once per semester upon invitation from school principal and/or school PTO president. The Board member liaison should inform the school principal and school PTO president of his or her availability and willingness to attend a meeting at the start of the academic year. The Board member liaison should re-iterate his or her availability and willingness to attend a meeting to the school principal and school PTO president at the start of second semester where appropriate, such as to serve as a reminder.

Board Member Reporting: Board member liaisons should report school visits and PTO meeting attendance in writing in the Board Liaison Report circulated monthly by the Board Secretary.

Board Member Contact Information

Administration Contact Information

Shared Key Interests

Annual Budget Book

District Map

District Brochure

District Calendar

If you are interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact:

Cassie Peck
Administrative Assistant
to the Superintendent of Schools
Board Secretary/Deputy Clerk
715-261-0505
cpeck@wausauschools.org

WASB Introductory Information

2025 WASB Guide for Candidates