Rick Kollauf Returns to Whitnall School Board

Former Whitnall School Board member Rick Kollauf is back — at least for now.

At a meeting Monday, Kollauf was chosen from four candidates who applied to replace Suzette Larson, who resigned in September. He will finish her term, which expires in April.

Kollauf, of Greenfield, spent 12 years on the board, including 11 as treasurer, before choosing not to run in 2010.

“I can hit the ground running,” Kollauf said. “I’ve got the credentials … I have civic-minded service at heart and look forward to helping the district in any way possible.”

The board voted for Kollauf over Hales Corners’ LuAnn Bird, a former school board member in Oshkosh; Hales Corners’ Heather Givich, a PTO secretary; and Franklin’s Jon Jones, who ran for a board seat in three previous spring elections.

Candidates applied for the position with letters of interest prior to the meeting. On Monday, they gave brief statements and answered board members’ questions.

In the first round of voting among the six board members, Kollauf received three votes to Givich’s two and Bird’s one. The next two rounds were 3-3 ties between Kollauf and Givich before Kollauf finally won the fourth vote, 4-2.

He was sworn in immediately.