ELLSWORTH — Following the abrupt retirement of Ellsworth High School Principal Oran Nehls on May 30, community member Sean Hall spoke to the school board, pleading for answers.

“A lot of people in the school district, we’d like to know why you guys chose a few days before the end of the school year for Mr. Nehls to go. Why couldn’t you guys have waited until the end of the school year when there was nothing going on, none of this would have happened and you don’t even bother to give us an explanation,” Hall said. “It seems to be truth is a problem for you folks. You guys like to hide a lot of things. Why can’t we get the truth?”

Hall also asked the district to educate students and protect them within the district.

“Getting rid of students that don’t belong here when they put out bestiality videos that are verified by the Pierce County Department and being still circulated,” Hall said. “How about the kids that are showing pornographic photos on the buses to kids. They don’t even get suspended.

“Mr. Nadeau, you inherited a hell of a shitstorm, and we’d like to see it all cleaned up,” Hall said.

“Employee Investigation” was an item on the closed session agenda for the meeting, but after returning to open session, the board moved for no discussion on the item.

The board also went through a superintendent evaluation during the board meeting, approving Superintendent Brian Nadeau’s compensation after reconvening.

Library Book Challenges

The board heard the first reading of a policy revision that would change the amount of time necessary to elapse before a library book can be challenged again from one year to three years. According to Nadeau, other schools are moving to the 3-5 year range.

“We’ve not had issues with book challenges to date, at least recently,” Nadeau said. “I believe that’s because they’ve been handled very effectively in the past from what I’m aware.”

Board member Steve Mark was against the change from one year to three, mentioning he takes calls from constituents complaining about books carried within the district.

“It’s really just carrying over what we’re already doing, and it offers the community great latitude to object any material,” Mark said. “I support it remaining at one year, just to give the community a broad range of complaint ability.”

Board member Michael Petersen said he has also received over-the-phone complaints about books held in the library. He said the process is in place for community members to challenge these books, but each time he mentions that, they have not yet followed through.

The item will return in July for a second reading and further deliberation before a decision is made.

Operational referendum

In April 2026, the district plans to go to an operations referendum. Nadeau said surveys will go out to the community to help shape the proposal, and there will be presentations and booths at events.

Other business

• After receiving a total rewrite a year ago, the board approved some policy revisions that were deemed necessary after going through the process for a year. The notable changes include the incomplete grade system and alterations to ensure students are in school all day in order to compete in their sport with the exception of extenuating circumstances. Name, image and likeness policy was also added after being approved by the WIAA.
• Authorized Nadeau to determine the transfer from Fund 10 to Fund 46 at his discretion. The action was taken to avoid a special board meeting to move the funds. The approval was simply for this fiscal year.
• Approved the revised third grade retention policy. The policy update was required per Act 20.
• Acknowledged Mary Lundstrom as a Global Scholar, the fifth-grade class trout release, the fourth-grade trip to the Capitol in Madison and the Elementary Math Masters team that took second place at a competition.

Personnel

The board approved the following personnel changes:

Hires: Mindy Anderson, high school art teacher; Dayah Halverson, elementary teaching assistant; Jeremy Nygaard, elementary principal.

Resignation: Brandon Voelker, high school varsity baseball coach.

Retirement: Oran Nehls, high school principal.

Extra/Co-Curricular: Nick Foley, Infinite Campus Co-SIS Administrator; Pia Freeman, Middle School Assistant Cross Country Coach; Brian Schmit, middle school cross country coach.