Phillips School District Invites Senator Decker for a First-Hand Look at Budget Cuts

Student Council member, Brian Pekol, and Power of Positive Students member, Anna Coyle, presented Senator Decker with a symbolic torch, asking him to keep alive the tradition of providing the best public education for them and their classmates. The torch is to be placed in Senator Decker's office to remind him of his commitment to the children of Wisconsin. More Photos

The Phillips School District took a proactive approach to the budget cuts they may face as a result of the 2003-2005 state budget. On Monday, March 10, 2003, they invited state Senator Russell Decker (D-Schofield), a member of the Joint Finance Committee, to talk to students, teachers, and staff and see what is going on in their schools.

Phillips already made over $370,000 in cuts last year, and it will have to make over $720,000 in cuts this year just to stay within the budget. That means larger class sizes and cuts in teachers, aides, program coordinators, administration, building maintenance, extra-curricular programs, and transportation services.

Senator Decker sat in on classes and programs while students asked what would happen to their schools. He talked about finding the best funding system and ways that the current one could be changed.

Middle school teacher Randy Kunsch said it is obvious that the funding formula needs to change, yet they "don't have anybody who will be a hero to our children and stand and scream it," as reported on WJFW-TV, Channel 12. He hopes Senator Decker will be that hero, but worries about what will happen when the next cut comes.

For more details on Senator Decker's visit to Phillips, see the Rhinelander Daily News article.

Top of page

Back to Recent Events