City Times Staff

Officials from the Stevens Point School District on Friday have confirmed a recall committee has been registered to recall School Board Members Kim Shirek and Lisa Totten. 

Karlyn Krautkramer, administrative assistant in business services, today confirmed a group called “Save Our Schools” filed the required GAB-1 form Friday morning. The form officially recognizes the committee under state law, but also thrusts the group into a massive effort to collect the necessary number of signatures to recall the board members, both who are in their second terms.  

The group is required to obtain 6,549 valid signatures- 25 percent of all voters from the last gubernatorial election- within the next 60 days.

Should the group gather enough valid signatures, Krautkramer said while the timeline is “extremely, extremely tight,” it’s possible for the recall to coincide with the spring election in April, saving the cost of a separate election.

According to the form, the group listed three reasons for the recall: inability to cooperatively work with administration, staff and other board members to move the district forward; disrespectful and rude in public televised meetings; poorly represents the district by unprofessional demeanor.

Totten has consistently come under fire by other board members for not leaving the room when recusing herself from votes relating to district employees. Totten’s husband is a public school teacher.

Board members have also regularly complained during open session meetings that Shirek, along with Totten, regularly show disrespect to district employees and engage in shouting matches during the public meetings.

The group has created a Facebook page to communicate updates and information.

More as we have it.