By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Rural schools task force to hold public hearing in Elroy
It will hear from area administrators. local leaders
Placeholder Image

The Speaker’s Task Force on Rural Schools will hold its second public hearing from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6  in the Intermediate School Commons at the Royall Middle School in Elroy.

The task force, chaired by Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), is looking for solutions to problems facing rural schools including declining enrollment and transportation issues.

Similar to the first public hearing, area superintendents will provide testimony on what they are seeing in their districts. The hearing is open to the public.

“Our first public hearing in Rhinelander went extremely well. The Task Force heard testimony from superintendents, concerned parents, and members of the manufacturing and broadband industry for over four hours,” said Swearingen.

“The Elroy area is very different from the Rhinelander area, but we face many of the same challenges. I’m glad that Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) invited us to come and speak with people in his area of Wisconsin. I expect to have a meaningful discussion about possible solutions for rural schools.”  <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:0 2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 16 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:0 2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} h2 {mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} h3 {mso-style-next:Normal; margin-top:12.0pt; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:3.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:3; font-size:13.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-parent:""; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.BalloonText, li.BalloonText, div.BalloonText {mso-style-name:"Balloon Text"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:8.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;} span.Heading3Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char"; mso-style-parent:""; font-size:13.0pt; font-weight:bold;} p.Default, li.Default, div.Default {mso-style-name:Default; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:144205552; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1159297786 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:?; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 {mso-list-id:390273021; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-494246524 984073 1639433 1770505 984073 1639433 1770505 984073 1639433 1770505;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l2 {mso-list-id:1859346973; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-283189948 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713 66569 197641 328713;} @list l2:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:?; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} -->

“I’m looking forward to a productive dialogue between members of our community and the legislators on the task force,” said  Brooks. “People from Juneau, Marquette, Vernon, and Sauk counties will be offering testimony, and I know that they will be able to paint an accurate picture of the triumphs and challenges facing schools in west central Wisconsin.”

In the morning, legislators on the task force will receive private tours of Mauston High School and Royall High School. Following the tours will be the public hearing, which will begin at 1:30 p.m., and will feature testimony from Mark Gruen of the Royall School District, Christine Weymouth and Jim Dillin from the Mauston School District, Curt Bisarek from the Hillsboro School District, and John Eyerly from the Westfield School District. Also invited to testify are representatives from Seats Inc. and the Sprinkman Corporation, as well as Mauston school board member and parent Carrie Buss. Public testimony will be accepted if time permits.