East Troy board accepts four resignations, including an elementary director who cited referendum and financial strain

The East Troy School District Board accepted four resignations at its May 20 meeting, including a letter from a long‑serving director‑level educator that cited the failed operational referendum and ongoing financial pressures as factors in the decision to leave.

Resignation letters read into the record included a director of elementary teaching and learning (author of a long letter describing 14 years with the district and saying the failed referendum and financial strain had taken a toll), a middle‑school physical education teacher (Cindy Feenstra), a Little Prairie special education teacher (Kaylee Kohler), and an elementary art teacher (Stephanie Durocher). The board moved to accept the resignations of Stephanie Durocher, Kayla Fuller, Sydney Feenstra, and Amy Castonguay by voice vote.

Excerpts from the director’s letter read at the meeting said the decision to resign was made with “tremendous sadness” after many years in the district and noted increasing complexity in student needs, resource constraints and a community climate that the author said had sometimes been shaped by criticism on social media rather than direct engagement. The letter urged the community to “recognize the incredible treasure that exists within our schools” and called for sustained community partnership.

Board members thanked departing staff for their service and acknowledged the resignations as part of the budget response: administrators and trustees emphasized that some vacancies resulting from resignations may not be replaced as the district implements approved reductions. The board’s acceptance of the letters was procedural; the personnel matters will be addressed administratively for any interim coverage or recruiting.