Longtime School District of La Crosse and Viterbo University educator and administrator Jim Bagniewski believes people are meant to help each other, and he strives to make a difference in the lives of others through a wide variety of community service. Bagniewski has been the chair of Bluffside Neighborhood Association for the past ten years and also serves on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Revitalization Commission, the All Neighborhood Association, and as the Mobile Meals Board secretary. He was recently elected to the La Crosse School Board.
A member and Chair of the Roncalli Newman Catholic Church Parish Council for many years, Bagniewski has helped host the Welcome Back Sunday Picnic for students, Holy Thursday Dinner, the annual Thanksgiving potluck, and other social events. He is a past member of the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, Parenting Place, FSPA’s Justice & Peace, the La Crosse Public Education Foundation, and La Crosse Nonprofits Incorporated.
For his extensive volunteer work with theExchange La Crosse Area Furniture Bank, Bagniewski received a WXOW Jefferson Award in 2021. He has also been involved with the community gardens, spent time working for Habitat for Humanity, and served as a substitute math teacher for the La Crosse School District.
Internationally, Bagniewski collects books for the organizations of Books for Africa & Africa Strong, and has made two trips to Uganda. He and his wife, Carolyn, hosted two students from Luxembourg this past year. “I just like to help out where I can,” he said.