Superintendent Finalists
The School District of Onalaska Board of Education has announced the finalists in its search for their new superintendent. They are:
- Ben Barton, Superintendent for Princeton Public Schools (since 2018)
- Dr. Rainey Briggs, Superintendent for the School District of Baraboo (2021-2025)
- Lalisha Olson, Principal for Northern Hills Elementary (since 2020)
The three finalists will take part in a final round of interviews, which includes an open forum at the Onalaska High School Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 6 starting at 5:30 p.m. Each candidate will have a 60 minute interview segment. Questions will be based on a candidate profile developed through community surveys and focus groups conducted by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Search Consultant. The public can submit additional questions for consideration to Bruce Quinton at bquinton@wasb.org prior to the forum. While all submissions will be reviewed, only a limited number will be used due to time constraints.
The new superintendent will fill a position that was vacated in October 2024. Fran Finco and Roger Fruit were brought on by the board as interim co-superintendents in December 2024. The anticipated start date of the new superintendent is July 1, 2025.
![Ben Barton]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1740676807/onalaskak12wius/hklitjotxga7asceuu9t/BenB.png","width":240}])
Ben Barton
Barton holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in physical education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from St. Mary’s University. He completed his studies at St. Cloud State University for his superintendent license.
Barton was the principal at La Crescent Middle School for seven years, and superintendent at Caledonia Area Public Schools for six years. He is the current superintendent for Princeton Public Schools in Princeton, MN and has been in that position since 2018.
![Dr. Rainey Briggs]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1740676792/onalaskak12wius/srs6jfsejlt10zyro3ew/RaineyB.png","width":240}])
Dr. Rainey Briggs
Briggs holds a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato in community health and a master’s degree from Viterbo University in educational leadership. Briggs earned his doctorate in education from Edgewood College.
Briggs was an elementary principal and high school assistant principal in the Sun Prairie Area School District for a total of five years, an elementary principal within the Madison Metropolitan School District for three years, and held the position of director of elementary education at Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District for six years. He was most recently the superintendent at the School District of Baraboo from 2021-2025.
![Lalisha Olson]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1740676772/onalaskak12wius/gicwakvtjph8ep64xzux/LishO.png","width":240}])
Lalisha Olson
Olson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in broadfield science and a master’s degree from Winona State University in education. She earned her director of special education certification through Viterbo University and completed her studies at Winona State University for her superintendent license.
Olson was the director of student services at the School District of Holmen for three years and the associate principal at Onalaska Middle School for two years. She is the current principal at Northern Hills Elementary in the School District of Onalaska and has been in that position since 2020.