The Shawano School Board rejected the petition of a man from the Town of Waukechon seeking to have his full property absorbed into the Bonduel School District by a 7-1 vote Feb. 10.
Charles Lemerande told the board that his children already attend Bonduel public schools through open enrollment. Surrounding neighbors are already part of the Bonduel School District, he said, and his home is also in Bonduel’s domain, but a portion of his land is currently designated part of the Shawano School District. That is what he wanted to resolve.
“I wasn’t aware of that until it was brought to my attention,” Lemerande said. “I am like the lone one standing.”
By state law, any requests to alter the boundaries of a school district must be submitted in writing by Feb. 1, but the school board must make a decision on whether to adopt the petition or not. The petition was submitted Sept. 30, 2024.
Lemerande noted that his family bought the house 10 years ago, and the Realtor informed him that the entire property was designated Bonduel School District.
Superintendent Kurt Krizan said the boundary lines were drawn up decades ago when the school districts were formed.
“I’ve never known of a petition being approved, because we’d be giving money away,” Krizan said. “I don’t know of one that has been approved by a board to go out.”
Lemerande said he has no interest in enrolling his two children in Shawano School District, even though there are issues regarding busing along Castle Road, where the family lives.
“I don’t ever intend to ever take my kids out of Bonduel School District,” Lemerande said. “They are happy where they are. Our neighbors to the south send their children to Bonduel schools.”
He noted that his children went to Shawano schools the first two years they lived in their home, but the family felt the education was not adequate, especially with having long-term substitute teachers handling the classrooms.
“How many people have you dealt with who were on a district boundary line?” Lemerande said.
Board member Jeana Winslow said there are plenty of people who live on the boundary line between the Shawano and Bonduel school districts, but petitions like this are extremely rare.
“Everybody on that boundary line, they would constantly be switching,” Winslow said.
Board member Frank Kugel voted against the motion to deny, and board president Mike Musolff was absent from the meeting.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Petition to alter school district boundary denied
