Student WEA members Katie Schaumann (left) and Kay Stickland paint a mural in a classroom at Wittenberg Middle and Elementary School during the Outreach to Teach project April 18.

Student WEA members took on three extra challenges during the sixth annual Outreach to Teach project April 17-18, 2004. Instead of volunteering the manpower and resources for maintenance in just one school, they worked in four.

Approximately 150 Student WEA members, WEAC and WEAC-Retired members, Eagle Scouts, Future Farmers of America (FFA) members and community volunteers painted murals, classrooms and a gym; built sandboxes; installed shelving; and placed woodchips around playground equipment at Wittenberg High School, Wittenberg Middle and Elementary School, Birnamwood Elementary School and Elderon Elementary School.

The Outreach to Teach grant is awarded to schools in need of structural maintenance and renovations because of budget shortfalls caused by revenue controls. It is funded by NEA's CLASS grant for local association and community outreach, and by Student WEA.

"We chose Wittenberg-Birnamwood because they had a lot of projects that really needed to be done," Student WEA Secretary-Treasurer Brian Baker said.

That's exactly why Wittenberg-Birnamwood Co-President Ann Hawley applied for the grant last fall. The lack of resources and supplies was beginning to cause a decline in moral she said. "We hope this will perk us up a bit."

The event kicked off April 17 with an address from Sen. Roger Breske, who then helped build a sandbox on the playground at Wittenberg Middle and Elementary School. "The students really enjoyed meeting him," Student WEA Coordinator Nancy Clark said. "They welcomed the opportunity to talk with him about his support for great schools."

Baker, the lead organizer for the project, is attending UW-Eau Claire. He worked with Clark, Hawley and Wittenberg Middle and Elementary School teacher Maddie Froom to decide which projects volunteers would complete during the event.

Froom and Hawley said they were most excited about the renovations to the playground of Wittenberg Middle and Elementary School. Volunteers painted a large, colorful map of the United States and distributed woodchips around playground equipment to help prevent injuries. "I looked out the window Saturday night and saw 25 kids working on the map," Froom said. "They were on their hands and knees painting. It was really neat to see."

Baker said the families and students who came to the school to help also noticed the playground updates. "They're really happy with what they've seen so far," he said. "Especially the map."

WEAC-Retired member Bob Henning arrived in Wittenberg-Birnamwood several days in advance to begin work. He designed the sandboxes and shelving units for elementary students, and did carpentry work in classrooms.

Members of the Wittenberg ESP local also volunteered their time during the event by cooking breakfast for volunteers April 18.

Baker, who participated in his third Outreach to Teach project at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, said he volunteers because it gives him the opportunity to talk with teachers and administrators, and helps him build his organization skills. "It's awesome to see the projects coming together," he said.

Posted April 20, 2004