Winneconne School Board accepts District Administrator Peggy Larson’s retirement

The school board voted 4-2 to accept her retirement in a special meeting on Wednesday, continuing its recent split. The two board members who voted against the retirement say Larson is retiring against her will and asked she be reinstated. The vote to reinstate her failed.

“I do not believe this was a voluntary retirement,” said board member Jill Verich. She and fellow board member Mark Kunde voted to reinstate her but failed to gain enough support.

School Board President Kati Calewarts wouldn’t answer any questions on Wednesday night, instead saying she would be available to interview on Thursday. Larson was not at the meeting and didn’t respond to our questions via text.

Questions we still have:

1. Why is Larson retiring?
2. Did Larson feel this was her decision?
3. What is Calewarts’ opinion of the retirement?

Board president and vice president are currently facing a recall

Calewarts and Vice President Dean Ackmann are facing recall elections, in part due to their tie to the group Moms for Liberty. Petitioners say they’ve received enough signatures, and the school board needs to certify the recall at its meeting next Monday. Wednesday’s decision only solidified the divide.

“People don’t retire for no reason. Investigations don’t happen for no reason either,” said Adam Ahrens, Vice Chair of Moms for Liberty Winnebago County. “So I don’t know the details. They will come out in a report, and I guess we can all make our judgment then.”

Critics say she was coerced into retirement

Former School Board President Bob Ronk, who supports the recall, countered.

“If they want to call it a retirement, that’s great, they can call it a retirement,” said Ronk. “But the bottom line is it was brought about by four members that vote as a bloc on the board.”

He’s referring to the four who have a link to the group Moms for Liberty, including Calewarts and Ackmann. Ronk also believes they should be recalled for a lack of transparency and concerns over a legal contract signed before the board approved it.

“Decisions seem to be reached ahead of time without any consideration of the other three members of the board,” said Ronk.

Moms for Liberty still supports candidates

Moms for Liberty Winnebago County is continuing its support for the four board members, which includes Cari Flagg and Cindy Otten, both elected this past spring.

“We’ve decided to sponsor them or support them because their values aligned with ours,” said Moms for Liberty Winnebago County Chair Laura Ackmann, wife of Dean Ackmann. “It’s no different when a Republican Party or a Democratic Party sees a candidate and that they feel, ‘Wow, what they’re talking about really aligns with us,’ and we’re going to support them. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Petitioners did receive enough signatures to force a recall election for the two. The board will have to certify those results at its meeting next Monday, ultimately leaving it up to voters to decide which side of the divide to go.