Hartland-Lakeside residents speak out against the nomination of the school board president's son for the library board

Residents voiced strong opposition to the Hartland-Lakeside School Board president nominating his son for the Hartland Library Board at the Village Board meeting Sept. 26.

About 25 residents packed Village Hall to share their concerns about School Board President Tom Harter nominating his son, Joseph Harter, to a Library Board position that was thought to have been filled by Michele Plank, a Hartland-Lakeside kindergarten teacher who has held the position since 2011.

There are seven seats on the Library Board. Most are picked by the village board and the county, but one is picked by the school board president and must be approved by the village board. Despite Plank serving in the role for more than a decade, her initial three-year term was never reappointed, which appears to have been an oversight.

"I thought that because it said superintendent and superintendent’s designee, the superintendent sends someone to sit on the Library Board, and it’s always worked," said Village President Jeffrey Pfannerstill. "In looking into some of the other things in the library, was when I found out all of a sudden that you need three-year terms, and I realized it’s all under honest mistakes, but we weren’t doing it right and to make it official, it needs to go through the board."

Having learned this, Tom Harter brought his son's name forward at the School Board meeting Sept. 19. Consequently, members of the community began sending emails to their trustees and the village president to ask them to decline the nomination.

After more than an hourlong discussion, the nomination was denied and the issue sent back to the School Board. But residents still have concerns.

Why residents were against the nomination

The main issues brought forward from residents were concerns about nepotism, lack of qualifications and the replacement of Plank on the board after 11 years of service.

The current term for the role Plank might not technically have but has been serving is April 2023. She'd have to be reappointed then.

"This seems to me to be the definition of nepotism," Courtney Marshalek, a Hartland resident, told the board. "Appointing an unqualified son to a position that has dozens of more qualified candidates. Who is best served by this nomination: Hartland, or the Harter family?"

Others questioned Joseph Harter's background and whether he has time for the role.

Tom Harter said his son is a third-year medical student, had previously served on the Arrowhead principal’s cabinet to interview prospective replacements, was on a pre-med honors society executive board at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has visited the contiguous 48 states and has done some international travel.

"I think he is eminently qualified ... and I would appreciate your support very much," Tom Harter said.

However, residents were not totally sold.

"When I had heard Tom had nominated his son, I was upset. I was disgusted," said Pat Nelson, who served on the Hartland-Lakeside School Board for four years. "I thought it was shameful. Unfortunately, I was not surprised. It seemed like the kind of thing Tom would do.

"I think we have a lot of qualified people in the district who would be great in this position ... I think Tom just nominated his son and that is nepotism.”

Board discussion

After Pfannerstill explained the legality questions that illuminated the possible vacancy, the board discussed the topic briefly, stating that they would like to see another candidate put forward and have these discussions at the school board level.

"I’m not real happy with some of this that’s come up," said Trustee Ann Wallschlager. "I was surprised when it all came through. There were no papers on anything, so I’m not comfortable with it. I will say that, and from what I know of the library and the board, they’ve done a great job and it’s fabulous ... I think with all of the resources we have and the whole community that I think there would be someone more qualified and better for this position."

Pfannerstill echoed those comments.

"It sounds like the school needs to figure it out," Pfannerstill said. "I don’t think that this is the battlefield for this fight. I really don’t."

In the end, the board voted, 5-1, to deny the nomination, with Pfannerstill casting the lone no vote, clarifying after that he did so "only because I think it should go back. I think the board should be more informed, and they should be able to know what is going on."

The decision now goes back to the School Board to pick another name to bring to the village board.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hartland-Lakeside residents object to library board nomination