By Sterling McGinn

The Tahquamenon Area Schools (TAS) Board of Education voted to approve new hires for the district and accepted the retirement of a longtime administrator at their regular January meeting held on Monday, January 20 at 6 p.m. in the board of education room. There were four members of the public in attendance.

The board voted to hire Kayla Welker as the varsity volleyball coach and Hollis Yenna as the 7/8 boys’ basketball coach.

Brenna Pavey was also hired as the early childhood special education teacher and K-6 grade resource teacher.

“That position has been open for quite a while,” said Superintendent Stacy Price.

The board voted to accept a letter of intent to retire from the district from special education coordinator Brooke Neeb effective June 30, 2025.

“Brooke has been in the district for 25 years as of this June and we very much appreciate her investment in our students, especially in the special education realm,” Price said. “Her knowledge of the special education laws are very vast and she knows them like the back of her hand. We wish her well.”

In other business, veteran TAS Board of Education trustee Bruce Klusmeyer was appointed back to the board for a two-year term at a special meeting held on Wednesday, January 15 in the board of education meeting room at 6 p.m.

Klusmeyer’s original term was up for re-election in 2024, though he did not run again. A vacancy remained after the election, which the board was required to fill by appointment.

The board received two letters of interest: one from Klusmeyer and the other from another longtime board member Larry Vincent, who ran in the November election, but did not win a seat on the board. After interviewing both candidates, the board ultimately voted to appoint Klusmeyer to the board.

Klusmeyer’s term ends December 31, 2026.

The TAS board of education’s executive members for the year include: Eric Feldhusen, president’ Veronica Edwards, vice president; Colleen Duflo, secretary; and Michael Havens, treasurer. Other members of the board include Amanda Kitz