Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

As a recent product of our educational system, I look forward to taking my experiences and finding ways to eliminate our failures and build upon our successes. I have experienced education in a Catholic K-8 and in a public High School. I spent two years at the UW Barron County University located in Rice Lake, and I spent one year at a nearby four-year University. I have also experienced waiting lists at a technical University. These recent experiences have opened my eyes to the realities of our educational system today. As your next state representative, I look forward to working with taxpayers and educators (not government bureaucrats) to find common sense solutions that empower our schools, parents, and educators. We must remember that our school system is critically important not only to our neighbors and families, but to our business community as well.
While Wisconsin is a local-control state, the rights of the public are not adequately defined in those state statutes. Unfortunately, parents and citizens often face stumbling blocks when trying to exercise local control of schools. As your state representative, I will author legislation which will better define the rights of parents and citizens in forming educational policies at the local level. This legislation will empower teachers and assure that they enjoy the decision-making authority that is granted to other professionals.

* Voted to add $200 million to our K-12 Schools.
* Voted to allow grade sharing as well as greater flexibility in the SAGE program in order to give our rural schools greater management tools.
* Passed a budget amendment that saved the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser School District millions.
* Passed a Rural Teacher Loan Forgiveness program that gives our teachers the same opportunity for help as those teaching in Milwaukee.

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