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 Anna Halat, a freshman from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, paints a sun mural on the wall along a stairwell. By Joanne Haas
They were 180 strong when they marched into the Loyal School District K-12 facility, toting supplies and an unending source of energy to grant a wish list of projects for this financially struggling district. When it was over, this year’s crew of volunteer workers from roughly 20 chapters of the Student WEA left behind more than lively murals, freshly coated hallways and restored playground equipment. They left behind a lot of goodwill. “This is one of the best things ever,” said Anna Halat, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who is studying to teach math and Spanish. “It is just so wonderful to first think about, and then see everybody getting things done. It is just amazing.” Halat was among the 180 college education majors from nearly every corner of Wisconsin, to participate in the 8th Annual Outreach to Teach, April 22-23 in Loyal. Freshman Ashley Pasiewicz of Carthage College in Kenosha said she enjoyed getting to know her peers from other Student WEA chapters and learning how they run their organizations. Painting in one of the school’s libraries, Pasiewicz was sharing the duties with another first-timer at Outreach -- sophomore Soua Yang of UW-Eau Claire. “People have come together to work,” Yang added. Outreach Coordinator Gina Pagel, a senior from Edgewood College in Madison, said it is not a problem convincing the college students to show up and help a school in need. “We had to start a waiting list this year for the first time,” said project coordinator Pagel, who also serves as Student WEA secretary-treasurer. The annual Outreach, Pagel said, also is used as a recruitment tool for the statewide student group. “It is our chance to show we support the public schools, the kids and the teachers – and to make a statement that we think addressing the issue of budget control is a priority.”
Pagel said teachers, as well as the maintenance chiefs, submit applications. Those applications are reviewed by the Student WEA Board in October. “We base our decision on need and the effect that revenue controls have had on the school as well as the types of project,” Pagel said. Indoor and outdoor projects also were part of the work duty, including painting the track and outdoor playground games. “There also are lots of number lines and alphabet lines,” Pagel said. “And we’re putting up blinds, replacing ceiling tiles, and also building shelves, with the help of WEAC-Retired members. It is a huge range of projects.” The student workers also added some brightness, including a mural to a boiler room being used as the special education room. This area had been known as the “dungeon” by some because of its location. Funds for the weekend project totaled about $12,000, Pagel said, and came from WEAC, the Central Wisconsin UniServ Council, the Loyal district and community contributors. Some businesses also contributed supplies and meals. A senior in elementary education and graduating in December, Pagel said her four years of involvement gave her perspective on what it takes to do such a massive project. “And definitely on the issue of how a budget affects how a school operates,” she said.
One volunteer, freshman Marie Walters of UW-Stout, who was busy painting an alphabet mural near the top of the wall in an elementary classroom, said she enjoyed meeting fellow students from other campuses. “It doesn’t even seem like work!” she said. Helping to paint one hallway was senior Natalie Steinwagner of UW-Stevens Point, who was back for her second Outreach project. “Last year, it was a great experience ... to see how much we can accomplish. “I just like to get up there and help.” Nancy Clark, WEAC’s Student WEA coordinator, said she wanted to send out a special thanks to Loyal teacher Peggy Brandt and other Loyal teachers and staff for their hard work and dedication in seeing the Outreach project through. Posted April 25, 2006 |
