District announces school board vacancy

Just two months after the last election, a resignation has led to a vacancy on the School District of Rhinelander’s board of education.

Board member David Holperin tendered his resignation on May 28, according to the district.

“Following four terms of service, the time has arrived to step aside,” Holperin wrote in an email to his fellow board members announcing his resignation. “I am resigning, effective immediately. I’ve always had great respect for what each of you bring and our time shared in meetings.”

In response to an inquiry from the River News, Holperin explained that “the time is right to go in a different direction.”

“For the past decade there has been little adversity within the school district or with the economic climate,” he wrote. “It has been the equivalent of perfect weather, not too hot and not too cold.  Change is on the way and much more difficult challenges are already on the horizon. My background in finance and business (Holperin is a financial advisor/branch manager at Stifel in Rhinelander) reinforce the inherent discipline to always look forward to what is coming and to prepare for any number of potential outcomes. It is a skillset developed over my lifetime, and one that I thought would lend itself for a leadership position on the board. I have offered to serve as either President of Vice President in each of the last three officer elections. The majority of the board opted to keep the status quo. Our vibrant community has so many good institutions and programs that there is no shortage of new opportunity. The time is right to go in a different direction.”

During the May 20 board meeting, Holperin nominated himself for board president and board vice-president only to have the majority choose longtime members Ron Counter and Judy Conlin for those posts. 

Counter has served as board president since 2011 or 2012, according to information he provided to the newspaper. He was initially elected to the board in 1993 but had a break in service between 2008 and 2010. During his first tour on the board he served as president for approximately five years and vice-president for approximately 7 years, he said.

Conlin has served on the board since April 2007 as has previously been chosen to serve as vice-president. 

In a legal notice published Tuesday, the district set forth the process for filling the vacancy.

“The School Board intends to appoint an eligible individual to fill the vacancy under a term of office that shall expire on April 27, 2025,” the notice reads. “Any person who is a resident and qualified elector of the School District of Rhinelander who desires to be considered for appointment to this public office must obtain and file a ‘Declaration of Candidacy’ along with a Letter of Interest.”

 The ‘Declaration of Candidacy’ form can be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent, 665 Coolidge Ave., Ste. B, Rhinelander. The letter shall minimally address the following:

• The reason(s) that the candidate wants to serve on the Board. 

• The individual’s qualifications and experience relevant to the position. 

• The candidate’s availability for Board duties.

The letters must be received prior to 3:30 p.m. June 10 by the School Board Clerk or Deputy Clerk at the Office of the Superintendent located at the following address:

 School District of Rhinelander

Administration Center

665 Coolidge Ave., Suite B

Rhinelander, WI 54501

The appointment will be considered during the next regular school board meeting which is scheduled for June 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Superior Diesel Learning Center at Rhinelander High School.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].