Eau Claire school board approves some boundary swaps, denies other detachment petitions after public hearing

The Eau Claire Area School Board heard petitions from homeowners and neighboring Durand‑Arkansaw School District officials and issued a mix of approvals and denials on multiple boundary change requests during a public hearing at its regular meeting.

The board voted to deny several homeowner petitions seeking detachment from the Eau Claire Area School District, including requests from Jennifer and Travis Smith, Margo and Bryce Perget, Matthew Malmberg, and Maureen and Scott Merrick. The board approved Sarah and Adam Boss’s petition to attach their property to the Eau Claire district. Separately, the board approved a pair of district‑initiated swaps with Durand‑Arkansaw under the statutory process the administration cited.

The hearing followed the district’s standard boundary petition timeline: petitions are due before Feb. 1 and the board must act by March 1; if the board takes no action the petition is considered denied. Doctor Mark Ellworthy, the district’s lead administrator on boundary petitions, told the board the administration recommended denial of several petitions where alternate avenues were being pursued, including 117.13 land‑swap discussions with Durand‑Arkansaw.

Officials summarized individual outcomes and next steps. Doctor Ellworthy said the district had negotiated an alternate swap…