March 7, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – Viroqua School Board President Angie Lawrence confirmed in a phone interview today that Viroqua District Administrator Tom Burkhalter will be leaving Viroqua Schools at the end of the school year to take a position as administrator in the Reedsburg School District. Lawrence had high praise for Burkhalter’s performance in his five years as the school districts leader, but said she understood his decision made sense for his career.
Lawrence ticked off a list of Burkhalter’s accomplishments and the challenges she said he helped the district to overcome.
“I believe that Tom Burkhalter has been one of the most amazing district administrators we’ve ever had,” said Lawrence. “He is going to a district that he grew up in, and it’s closer to his family, and we can’t thank him enough for his service, dedication, innovation, to our community. And we wish him only the best.”
Lawrence said Burkhalter came to the district at the beginning of COVID and helped the district make a “seamless” transition. She also listed a number of accomplishments achieved under Burkhalter’s leadership.
- The passage of a building referendum that enabled improvements to the tech ed and elementary facilities
- the development of a childcare facility in collaboration with Vernon Memorial Hospital
- expansion of the Montessori school and continued support of the charter schools
- reopening the Bigely Pool to year-round use
But Lawrence also praised Burkhalter’s leadership that helped drive decision making.
“He’s made great change,” said Lawrence. “We’re able to make data driven decisions. He is an innovator and a communicator, and he’s created a lot more educational opportunities for students with this support financially of our community, with the capital referendum. We’re so proud of the work that our district has been able to complete, begin and process under Tom Burkhalter’s leadership. Really proud of the work that’s taken place. We’re hopeful to fill the position with someone equally as driven and dedicated as Tom.”
Burkhalter said in a phone interview the decision to take the position at Reedsburg made sense for him and his family.
“I was born in Viroqua but I grew up over at Union Center,” said Burkhalter. “So we went to Reedsburg to do all of our grocery shopping and do everything like that. And so it’s about 30 minutes from my Mom and Dad’s house and then about 30 minutes from our hunting land. So the location is outstanding, but it was also one of those districts that we were very interested in, and it just kind of happened to work out. Obviously, Viroqua has been outstanding. It’s a great community, great school district, but it was just the right time for our family to make this decision.”
In reflecting on his accomplishments in his five years in Viroqua Burkhalter listed many of the same accomplishments Lawrence mentioned. Management of COVID, the addition of a childcare facility and the improvements to facilitates though a capital improvement referendum.
Burkhalter said he was also proud of the district staff that have responded even in the face of tough decision making over the last few years when the district was forced to reduce staff and benefits but maintain the quality of education.
“We’ve had to make really hard decisions and unpopular ones amongst the staff,” said Burkhalter. “And I really am proud of how our staff has responded. I’m proud of how they continue to show up each and every day, even under the constraints that we’re in through no fault of our own, and and they’re there for kids, and it’s very clear. And so, yeah, it’s been, it’s been an honor. It’s really been an honor.”
Lawrence said the school board has already signed an agreement with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to help the district find a replacement for Burkhlater who will stay with Viroqua through the end of the school year.
Lawrence said the Viroqua Area Schools Board of Education is interested in gathering input from staff and the community related to the hiring of a new district administrator. A Community Survey is one of the tools being used to help gather this information from the various stakeholders in the district. The information gathered from the Community Survey will assist the board in the creation of a profile outlining the skills and characteristics sought in candidates for the position and the development of questions to be used in the interviews.
The Community Survey can be accessed beginning March 7, 2025, on the Viroqua Area Schools website and will remain open through March 14, 2025.
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