About 150 Oshkosh-area residents turned out Tuesday night (November 6, 2007) to share their perspectives on Wisconsin's future, and to offer their ideas to make sure it's a bright one.

“Brain drain is real,” Michael Nikson, a science teacher at Sheboygan Falls High School, tells participants at a Wisconsin Way forum held in Oshkosh.

The state's education system, health care, economy, jobs, aging population, public services, justice system and government were among the top issues voiced during the forum.

Area resident Jim Niemeier said everyone must invest in the state's future, and that includes investments in public education. He held up newspaper clippings showing how executives at Spectrum Brand (formerly Rayovac) received bonuses despite stock values going down. Then he held up another clipping which read “ACT scores up in state” and said, “Now I'm going to look for the article in here that tells about the bonuses that teachers get.” There was none.

The community conversation was the seventh discussion session sponsored by Wisconsin Way. It is a grassroots project looking for ways to build a stronger Wisconsin economy that can better support public services, including education. WEAC is a coalition partner, along with the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

More than 1,000 residents have attended sessions throughout the state so far, generating more than 100 pages of ideas, concerns and suggestions.

Wisconsin Way forum participants raise their hands in agreement that the way the state funds public education and services needs to be changed.

The majority of residents who spoke in Oshkosh called Wisconsin's funding system for public services flawed, and pointed to gridlock in Madison as contributing to the problems the state faces. Several educators took the opportunity to point out the issues they see every day.

Tina Haffeman, a retired teacher who now works as a real estate agent, said the state must find alternative ways to fund essential services.

“Brain drain is real,” said Michael Nikson, a science teacher at Sheboygan Falls High School. He talked about the large number of Wisconsin young people who leave the state after college for high-paying jobs in other parts of the country. Nikson said Wisconsin needs to increase technology education and opportunities, including the types of jobs in the state.

A Wautoma resident said schools have so many unfunded mandates that communities cannot afford to reach all their students, including those who are gifted and talented. “Rural communities don't have the funds to help these students,” she said. “They are left with unfulfilled potential.”

Another woman said it's time for the state government to stop pitting one group of citizens against another. “When did it become OK for us to say that some of us can win and some can lose?” she asked.

Oshkosh Area School District Superintendent Ron Heilmann said the 2007-09 state budget passed in late October works against Wisconsin's tradition of education as a great equalizer. His district will receive $980,000 less in state dollars than originally anticipated this summer, he said, adding that the school tax levy credit touted by the Legislature will not help all residents and business owners.

Toward the end of the forum, several residents summed up their ideas by demanding collaboration in lieu of political posturing. “I'm not an educator or a public employee, but I will stand up and say it's time to stop making those people the scapegoats,” one man said. “It's not fair and it's not right.”

For more information, visit the OnWEAC Wisconsin Way page .

Posted November 7, 2007