Citing gender laws, Jill Herr resigns from school board
Jill Herr, former member of Holyoke School District Re-1J Board of Education, has resigned as of Thursday, March 2, citing in a letter that she “will not comply with” laws regarding student gender identity. She believes the laws in question are dangerous to “the physical and mental health of both straight and gender questioning students.” The Holyoke Enterprise will examine this topic further in a later issue.
Board members approved Herr’s resignation at their meeting that day and declared a vacancy. Persons interested in her former position are invited to pick up an application at the Holyoke School District administration office, located at 435 S. Morlan Ave. Applications are due by 2 p.m. on April 11. To be eligible for appointment, a candidate must be a registered elector of the school board district for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of appointment.
Contracts approved
Board members approved contracts for local educators, beginning with Angela Powell as principal of Holyoke JR/SR High School and Andrea Krammer as principal of Holyoke Elementary School for the 2023-24 year.
Also approved were Zach Krueger as a volunteer high school baseball coach for the 2022-23 year.
The board approved resignations from Maria Thacker as an elementary paraprofessional and Stephanie Rau as an elementary art teacher for the 2023-24 school year.
District Superintendent Kyle Stumpf announced this year’s Emerald Awards, made to honor school staff who excel in their professions, is set to be held April 20.
Feb. 15 meeting recapped
Stumpf, with the board approving his contract, is set to remain district superintendent for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The board also approved the following resignations: Elizabeth Hutches as a JR/SR high school English teacher, effective at the end of the current contract, and Amanda Brown as a JR/SR high school science teacher, effective Feb. 9.
More resignations included Ashley Gales as a 2022-23 track coach and Dani Jablonski as an assistant track coach for the 2022-23 season.
The next board meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at the high school.