Q: What is your name and role?

A: Gary Woolever, School Board President

Q: Describe what you do for the school board.

A: Serving as the board president; I meet with the Superintendent to discuss and set the agenda for the next monthly meeting, run board meetings, appoint board members to serve on committees of the board and serve as the Districts Tax Increment Districts liaison for  municipalities within our schools district boundaries.

Q: Why did you join the school board?

A: Very good question; At first I was talked into running by one of the counselors at RAHS. I thought it would be one and done. I am now running for my 8th term this April, which will be my last. Why stay on for all of those years? I felt a certain sense of giving back to the community that I grew up in and raised our two sons. Honestly, take out the COVID years and budget restraints its been pretty easy. Regarding the education aspect of being on the board; expanding options and opportunity's for our students has always been a high priority for me.

Q: What's your favorite part of your job in the school board?

A: That's a harder question than I thought it would be. I would say handing out diplomas to our graduating seniors has to be pretty high on the list. If I look at rewarding verses favorite, then being involved in selecting the last two superintendents is high in that regard, not that I want to have to do that again.

Q: What has your favorite project or topic been in your time with the school board?

A: I come from an engineering background so I have to say that being involved in the design and construction of the Prairie Ridge Intermediate school and  the expansion of RAHS has been some of my favorites. I'm anxious to see next years expansion at RAHS completed.

Q: Do you have any personal hobbies?

A: We have some land that was part of my wife's family farm. That gives me more things to occupy my time than there is time. I do a lot of brush cutting and invasive plant eradication (if that is even possible). We travel to watch grandkids complete in their sporting events. I hunt, mostly turkey's, deer and waterfowl. Once a year I spend a week fishing in Canada with five other guys. Late winter / early spring we find ourselves in the Florida Keys for a week or so. Occasionally, my wife gets me to travel more. This last summer we took a rail tour in Alaska from Anchorage to Fairbanks including Denali.

Q:What is something you want the Reedsburg Community to know about you?

A: I was born and raised in this community. I grew up on farm in the Town of Winfield. Other than about 4 years away we have spent our entire lives in the Reedsburg area. We raised our two sons here. I have coached Little League, youth wrestling, Middle school wrestling, announced high school wrestling for WRDB and been involved in more youth and highs school sports organizations than I can remember. This is truly an amazing community to be part of! 

Q: What is your name and role

A: Hello, my name is Lu Ann Brey and I serve the School District of Reedsburg as a school board member.  

Q: Describe what you do for the school board.

A: Serving as an advocate for our students is my main role as a school board member.  I also ensure the district is following policies and procedures adopted by the board/district.  

Q: Why did you join the school board?

A:When my sons attended Ironton-La Valle elementary, I was involved in the PTO.  One of my jobs was to attend monthly school board meetings and report happenings back to our PTO.  This is where my interest began.  Fast forward to when my sons were in high school, a gentle nudge from Steve Bauer, convinced me to run and serve our community.  

Q: What's your favorite part of your job in the school board?

A: Having served on the board for 18 years, I have made many new friends. Working together as a team (even when we don't always agree)  we have made decisions for our district which have made a positive impact for our students.  Student success, along with staff retention and recruitment, are both very essential to our district and very important to me.  

Q: What has your favorite project or topic been in your time with the school board?

A: Remember those portable classrooms?  I was so happy to see them go.  My favorite project was planning and building Prairie Ridge.  I learned a lot during that process and I hope to do it again someday with a new Middle School. 

Q: Do you have any personal hobbies?

A: I'm not sure this is a hobby but I love spending time at our family cabin in the summer.  Fishing or just enjoying the lake.  Quilting is another hobby of mine.  I also enjoy reading a good book

Q:What is something you want the Reedsburg Community to know about you?

A: Prior to retirement I worked for 40 years in Medical Imaging.  Most of those years here in Reedsburg.  My husband, Cal, and I have 3 sons who all graduated from our district.  Now 5 of our 7 grandkids also attend school here.  In a couple years all 7 will be enrolled.  I am very lucky to have all of my grandchildren close by and that allows us to spend a lot of time together making great memories.    

Q: What is your name and role

A: Heather Westphal School Board Clerk

Q: Describe what you do for the school board.

A: As a school board member, I act along with six others to make informed decisions for the district. We attend many meetings where we discuss, and review materials given to make these decisions. We also serve on committees for Finance, Curriculum, Policy and Operations.

Q: Why did you join the school board?

A: Reedsburg is special to me.  I wanted to be a part of the decision making that would shape the future of our district.

Q: What's your favorite part of your job on the school board?

A: I love the volunteering we get asked to do, visiting the schools and seeing the students and staff interactions and excitement with what's going on in and around the schools.

Q: What has your favorite project or topic been in your time with the school board?

A: Creating a vision and mission statement was such an in depth process, and I loved seeing what we were able to achieve at the end. I also serve on the curriculum committee, being presented with and reviewing what new and exciting things we can bring to the district has been exciting.

Q: Do you have any personal hobbies?

A: I love being a sports mom cheering on my kiddos. Hockey and volleyball are the household favorites.  I love being a team mom and planning fun events for the kiddos.  Boating is also a favorite, if we are not at a sporting event you will find us on the lake or river.

Q: What is something you want the Reedsburg Community to know about you?

A: I am thankful to be a part of the School Board and this community, and appreciate everyone who has supported and encouraged me. 

Q: What is your name and role?

A: Nikki Foesch - board member

Q: Describe what you do for the school board.

A: I serve on the Policy committee and am the chair of the Curriculum committee

Q: Why did you join the school board?

A: I have lived in Reedsburg for over 20 years and have two children who are students of the district. The opportunity to serve on the school board came at a time when I was ready to take on a new commitment. I really care about the education that our community’s children receive at our schools. RSD is doing some pretty exciting things, and I truly believe that our schools offer so many opportunities for students to thrive and find success in whatever career path best suits them. 

Q: What's your favorite part of your job in the school board?

A: There are so many exciting things happening in our district. It’s fun to see it all from the angle of the school board, and not just from the angle of a parent. Stories and successes that happen throughout the walls of our buildings don’t always make the news but are no less important and I love to celebrate that with our students and staff. 

Q: What has your favorite project or topic been in your time with the school board?

A: Probably the most important project in my time on the board was the search for our new Superintendent earlier this year. 

Q: Do you have any personal hobbies?

A: Family time will forever be my favorite hobby. Just spending time with my husband and our two girls - boating on Redstone and other area lakes in the summer. I love reading and don't leave home without a book queued up on my Kindle. 

Q: What is your name and role?

A: Ross Retzlaff, Board Member

Q: Describe what you do for the school board.

A: I am chairman of the operations committee and sit on the policy committee. We set and oversee the districts mission, vision and values while being fiscally responsible for the $50 million budget. 

Q: Why did you join the school board?

A: I have 3 kids in the district and I saw the damage that virtual learning was doing to the children of Reedsburg during Covid.  Instead of complaining on social media and protesting, I chose to get active and actually make a difference.  

Q: What's your favorite part of your job in the school board?

A: Getting to set the table for our staff to deliver amazing opportunities that allow the children of this district to identify and achieve their greatness.

Q: What has your favorite project or topic been in your time with the school board?

A: Creating the strategic plan.  It lays out exactly who we want to be as a school district and provides a blueprint and map for future board members.  It provides measurables that keep everyone accountable.

Q: Do you have any personal hobbies?

A: Watching/coaching any of my kids activities, golf, fishing and hunting.

Q: What is something you want the Reedsburg Community to know about you?

A: I'm Reedsburg through and through.  I care deeply about this community and hope to make it a place my kids want to call home.  

Q and A Coming Soon!

Q and A Coming Soon!