New Auburn School Board votes to offer SPED director job to Austin Hiess

The New Auburn School Board voted 5-0 on May 1 to offer Austin Hiess the position of Assistant Administrator/Special Education Director for the 2025–2026 school year, the board recorded in minutes of a special meeting at the high school library.

Board President Louise Cody and board member Michelle Rayburn moved and seconded the hiring motion after the board met in closed session earlier in the meeting under Wisconsin law. Louise Cody, president of the New Auburn School Board, made the motion to offer the position; Michelle Rayburn, a board member, seconded it. The board’s roll-call votes on motions at the meeting were unanimous where recorded.

The hiring discussion took place following a closed session convened under WI SS 19.85(1)(c) (consideration of employment, compensation or performance evaluation data of public employees) and (f) (consideration of personal histories or disciplinary data of candidates). The board convened to closed session at 9:15 p.m. and reconvened to open session at 9:35 p.m., according to the minutes. The motion to offer the position was recorded after the board returned to open session.

Earlier in the meeting, the board approved the agenda on a 5-0 vote on a motion by Michelle Rayburn, seconded by Nick Jones. Louise Cody moved and Michelle Rayburn seconded the motions to go into and to exit closed session; roll-call votes on those motions were recorded as Ben Baalrud — yes, Louise Cody — yes, Nick Jones — yes, Shannon Berg — yes, Michelle Rayburn — yes.

The minutes state that the board voted to offer Hiess the Assistant Administrator/Special Education Director role for the 2025–2026 school year but do not indicate whether Hiess accepted the offer or any terms of employment. The special meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m. on a motion by Shannon Berg, seconded by Nick Jones.