The Argyle School Board approved extra duty stipends along with approving the retirement of District Administrator Dr. Randy Refsland effective June 20, 2026.
Last year the extra duty stipends totaled $32,650. This year the stipends are totaling $37,625. There are four new stipends and there were an increase to four other stipends.
Board member Nicole Meinert questioned what the duties are for the coordinator of the National Honor Society. The coordinator gives out to applications to students that qualify. They meet to go over scholarship applications and there is the NHS induction program on awards night. Students used to do some service projects before Covid but principal Travis Erickson wasn’t sure if there were any other changes. He said that student council and Pep Club have taken over some of the duties of the organization. He added that the students used to give presentations to the younger students about character and leadership but that was all preCovid but doesn’t believe it was still happening.
Meinert stated that the amount of the stipend didn’t seem to fit the duties that are now taking place and felt it needed to be lower. Erickson said that Heidi Ganshert is giving up the position to take on other duties and he felt that if it was lowered, the district wouldn’t be able to find someone and then the duties would then fall back on Ganshert.
Business Manager Megan Leonard stated that the Summer School Ag stipend increased when current ag teacher Kendahl Schlueter took on the position. The board approved the extra duty stipends.
District Administrator Retirement
Before the Argyle School District hired Dr. Refsland, he was a part time district administrator at Highland School District from 2022–2023. He was hired as a full time district administrator at Argyle in 2023 when former district administrator Mike Bernak took a job in his hometown of Wonewoc. He then retired in June 2024 so the board could switch the district administrator position from full time to part time. This was during the time the district was going to referendum and this move was to help the district save some money.
Dr. Refsland has worked in education for 42 years. He has worked for large districts and even districts overseas but feels Argyle is truly special. He was looking to get some traveling done with his wife but came back on as a part time district administrator for the district in August 2024. Both he and his wife are looking forward to his full retirement after June 2026.
District Administrator’s Report
Argyle Police Chief Hayley Saalsaa and Shullsburg’s Chief of Police Josh Jerry did a walk through of the building and tested the WAVE system. The WAVE system is activated within the district for a school shooter situation or any other major disaster. The system them alerts all law enforcement, fire and EMS department and others about system was having some glitches and found the problem and now the entire system works great.
The Spanish program has begun at the district and only had some minor issues with technology in the beginning with a smart board not working correctly but that has been solved and classes are running smoothly.
The district held a community forum in the building Wednesday, Sept. 24 for the village of Argyle. This was for the community survey that was being conducted for the village comprehensive plan for 2026–2046.
Principal’s Report
Erickson talked about the summer CESA 3 book study several staff members joined this summer. They read the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, which explores the rise of anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles in children and teens today. Others read The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax, which focuses on cultural shifts that have led to a decline in parental authority and structure in children’s lives.
FFA students participated in a soil judging competition. Schlueter spoke saying that two classes participated along with 10–15 other schools at this competition. They were invited to come back to another competition. There are additional competitions before the fall state competition on October 8 at UW-Platteville.
Ganshert was not present so Erickson talked about the Greece trip she plans to take in March 2028 with the travel club. It is with the same company.
Other Business
The board also approved:
- second readings of revisions of policies.
- the FFA trip to the National Convention.
- revised CESA 3 contract. It is a CTE program requirement that was not in the original contract for a total of $3,500.
- co-ops is Pecatonica for boys’ and girls’ cross country and boys’ and girls’ track for the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years.
- donations: school supplies from Don Guthrie for Students in Need, school supplies from Annual Supply Drive from First National Bank and Trust of Argyle, and a large box of various school supplies for classrooms from Tom & Luann Golackson for Teacher Use in their classrooms.
Financials
Total disbursements for the month of August including payroll was $411,751.86. HRA payments, FSA fees and credit card fees totaled $4,956.44. Wire transfers for health, dental and life insurance totaled $68,645.86.
Some larger checks were for CESA #3 for their quarterly billing for $12,770.06, EMC for monthly property insurance installment for $5,231.33, Johnson Controls for services agreement and fire alarm inspection for $4,313.35, Lamers for the fall athletic transportation for August for $4,718.85, Marshfield for purchases of new desks and chairs for $9,235.64, Student Assurance for student accident insurance for $6,276.00 and $7,709.46 in miscellaneous checks less than $750. Payroll’s total was $208,835.70.
Cash receipts totaled $375,706.33. Green County and Lafayette County tax settlements and DOJ – mapping grant reimbursement totaled at $654,074.18. Student fees, breakfast and lunch payments totaled $14,377.25. Miscellaneous income was for $1,106.35 and interest income totaling $6,148.55.
For the district’s accounts, Leonard stated the district is sitting a little bit better in their General Checking account than they were last year with an amount of $793,543.16. They have $692.86 in the Athletic officials.