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By Terry Lawler
Contributing writer
Until his sophomore year at Waukesha South High School, Josh Carter admits that he “was just as apathetic as most high school students.” But when the Waukesha School Board considered cutting 4th- and 5th-grade band and orchestra programs, Carter decided it was time to act. Carter and fellow student Tracie Stevenson formed Student Advocates for Waukesha Schools or S.A.W.S.
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“S.A.W.S. was an offshoot of two students trying singlehandedly to save the music program,” Carter said.
“Josh approached me about the budget cut situation, and we decided to get going on something right away,” Stevenson said. “We spoke to the band as a group and the orchestra and explained the situation as best we could for them. This got people in the school aware of what was going on.”
Students wanted to know how they could help and “pretty soon we had S.A.W.S.,” she said.
Carter, Stevenson, and several other students started to attend board meetings wearing “Save Our Music” T-shirts. S.A.W.S. held a student-sponsored forum that was attended by about 80 students. The students started a S.A.W.S. Web site and put information on facebook.com and myspace.com. Their first day on facebook they recruited 300 new members. They held informational seminars which were well-attended.
 Josh Carter |
"Fortunately,” Carter said, “the programs weren’t cut that year.” But the following year, programs were cut.
“No matter how many kids attended board meetings, there was no way around the cuts,” Carter said. “It’s convenient to blame the school board, but they’re doing all that they can under the circumstances.”
Those circumstances, Carter said, were created in 1993 with the passage of the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law and school district revenue limits, which were tied to two-thirds state funding of education.
“The two-thirds state funding may work for some districts,” Carter said, “but not for Waukesha which is experiencing declining enrollment.”
“The revenue caps have a built-in deficit,” Carter said. “The formula is based on 1993 spending levels and does not take things like inflation into account.”
Carter and Stevenson insist that arts programs are not “frills.”
“They are part of what every district should offer to provide a well-rounded education for its students and be competitive with other districts,” Carter said.
Stevenson added, “Being a drum major for two years changed my life. I learned so much about leadership, responsibility, respect, trust and even communication skills.”
 Andy Dykeman |
S.A.W.S. member Andy Dykeman concurred. “Music, as much as athletics, taught me leadership and cooperation skills,” he said. “Students who take music tend to perform better in their academic subjects, especially math. I had enjoyed these benefits; I want my young nieces and nephews to have the same opportunity.”
Although Carter’s father, Brian Carter, is director of bands at Delavan-Darien High School, Carter said he depends on his parents solely for emotional support. Carter relied on his own resources and research to build the organization.
“I got much of my information from the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools and Project ABC. Those two organizations in particular have been very helpful to us,” he said.
Carter has spoken to representatives from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, and came away disappointed.
“They know what they’re talking about when it comes to taxes, but it seemed to me that they thought students should not have opinions on these matters. Still, I was glad to hear their viewpoints. I think all opinions should be heard whether you agree with them or not.”
 Tracie Stevenson |
Carter said he believes many students are apathetic because “they see what’s going on in Madison and Washington, D.C., and they feel helpless.”
Stevenson added, “I know that in many aspects, it seems hopeless. I am here to say that if there is a will, there is a way. I am determined to fight for what I believe in.”
That fighting spirit has helped S.A.W.S. to reach out to schools in other communities such as Stevens Point and Madison. And, although their membership numbers are down from last year, Carter, Dykeman and Stevenson continue to work with S.A.W.S., even though all have graduated from high school and gone on to either college or employment. This year they are reaching out to schools in the Kettle Moraine and Racine school districts.
All three are dismayed by the majority of Wisconsin’s legislators. “I get no sense of urgency from our state representatives,” Carter said. “Simply raising taxes or cutting back on teachers’ salaries and benefits is not going to solve the problem. If you had a business and every year $3.5 million was cut from your budget and every year you hired people on one-year contracts and annually ‘cleaned house,’ how long do you think you would have that business?”
The problem is getting worse, Dykeman said. “Waukesha North no longer serves gifted and talented students. Special education is being cut back. Extracurricular activities will go next,” he said.
While the students do not have a solution to offer, they believe that “conservatives and liberals have become so polarized, that they can’t reach middle ground,” Carter said. “Legislators on both sides of the aisle have to swallow their pride and work out a compromise.”
“Unfortunately,” Dykeman added, “politicians are more worried about voting against the wishes of their base than doing the right thing by students.”
Still, the students of S.A.W.S. strive to make their voices heard.
“Many people ask if I am still involved with S.A.W.S and when I say yes, they are confused why because to them it has no connection to me any longer,” Stevenson said. “That is where they are wrong. It has everything to do with me. It is who I am. It is where I am from. I know what a difference it has made in my life, and it is my mission to see to it that other students have those same experiences.”
Posted December 14, 2007
