Climbing Together - 4/9
An official update from Superintendent Ben Barton
Hey there, Hilltoppers. It's been a while! Welcome to your post-Spring Break edition of Climbing Together! We've got plenty of updates to share, so let's jump in. 👇
In this edition:
đź‘” Key leadership changes for the 2026-27 school year
🏆 Our district, as a workplace, is recognized
🌞 Summer school registration reminder
Leadership Changes
Jana Yashinsky, Eagle Bluff Elementary Principal
In January, Todd Saner announced his plans to retire at the end of the school year after 26 years as an administrator at Eagle Bluff. We’re excited to share that our very own Jana Yashinsky has been selected as the next principal!
Jana began her career in Onalaska in 2010 as an Adaptive PE teacher serving all three elementary schools. In 2018, she became Director of Student Services in another district before returning to Onalaska in 2020 as Associate Principal at OMS. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2026.
Jennifer Gimmer, Director of Student Services
January also brought the retirement announcement of Laurie Enos, who will retire in June after 17 years as our Director of Student Services.
We’re excited to welcome Jennifer Gimmer into this role. Jennifer previously served as a school psychologist in our district for nearly four years before becoming Holmen’s Director of Safety and Student Services in 2023. She will officially begin on July 1, 2026.
Tyler Hougom, Director of Finance & Business Services
We also extend our thanks to Janet Rosseter, who is retiring after three years of outstanding leadership in managing the district’s budget. Her work has played an important role in maintaining our strong commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Stepping into the role is Tyler Hougom, an Onalaska native and 2008 OHS graduate. Tyler brings a range of financial leadership experience and a deep connection to our community. It’s always special to see our alumni return and make a lasting impact on our schools.
We're a TOP WORKPLACE!
This recognition fills me with a great deal of pride. In March, the School District of Onalaska was officially recognized as a "Top Workplace" in the Education Industry. This distinction is based on a confidential, all-staff member survey conducted by an independent organization last fall, measuring areas like employee experience, support, growth, and empowerment. Based on those results, our district also received additional recognition in Compensation & Benefits, Professional Development, Purpose & Value, and Employee Well-Being.
I’ve always believed that when you have dedicated, motivated team members who take pride in where they work, it leads to great outcomes for students. This recognition is a strong sign that we’re on the right track in supporting our people.
At the same time, one of my favorite sayings is, “It’s okay to be pleased, but never satisfied.” While we celebrate this accomplishment, we remain focused on how we can continue to improve. In addition to this external survey, we conducted our own internal team member survey and held listening sessions at every school to better understand what’s going well and where we can grow. We’ll use this feedback to strengthen our work and continue supporting our staff in service of our mission: Working together to ensure high levels of learning for all.
For more information on the award, visit: https://topworkplaces.com/company/school-district-of-onala/
Reminder: Summer School Registration
Ready for summer?! Registration for our 2026 Summer School programming opens Tuesday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Our full K-8 and 9-12 course guides are available on our website to help you plan ahead. Be sure to review your options early as classes and sections fill quickly!
You can expect another email from us on Tuesday night when registration opens. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Coordinator of Instruction and Special Programs Jennifer Kalis at kalis.jennifer@onalaskaschools.com.
Enrollment Update
Looking to enroll a new student in our schools? Our online enrollment process has been temporarily delayed as we update systems, but we expect it to open in mid-May. Until then, here are a few important things to know:
- If your student is already enrolled in our district, you do not need to complete enrollment again. This process is for new students only.
- If you are an open enrollment family (living outside district boundaries) and have another student who will be new to the district for the 2026-27 school year, you must first apply for open enrollment through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The application window closes April 30, 2026. If an open enrolled student is already attending one of our schools, they do not need to be open enrolled again.
We know enrollment can feel overwhelming with different forms, timelines, and requirements. If you have questions or aren’t sure where to start, our Student Services team is here to help:
Student Services
237 2nd Ave S, Onalaska, WI
608.783.4610
psinfo@onalaskaschools.com
We’ve also created a text/email notification list for families who want to be alerted as soon as enrollment opens. If you’d like to be added, please fill out this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8IfVyN-FRaYoSxhBztlYgd8BLLDzG6BcO-hHqI0XVh3FsgQ/viewform