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Public Schools Work for Wisconsin.
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- By Pete Roller
- WEAC Community Relations Consultant
- Written for OnWEAC
When they met at the University of Northern Colorado, Peggy and John Holland never expected to end up teaching in the same school district. They now have almost a half-century of experience together in the Racine schools.
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Peggy teaches first grade, and John is a middle school media librarian, two positions that give them insiders' knowledge of what facilities provide an optimum educational experience for children.
While their teaching experience made them both perfect choices for leadership roles in the Racine schools, it was the neighboring high school their two sons attended that most needed their expertise and involvement. Union Grove High School desperately needed to pass a bond referendum.
In 1992, Peggy was the co-chair of an unsuccessful referendum committee. "Once we saw the board was going to try another one, we just had to get involved again,” said John.
Peggy became the co-chair of the new YES committee. “Why not? After all, the kids in the district still needed the improved buildings,” she said.
“It was interesting,” she continued. “None of the parents who worked hard on this second referendum had kids who would ever be able to personally benefit from the improvements.”
Since Peggy had been the president of the Union Grove High Parent Group, and since the Hollands were both members of the Bronco Booster organization, they began to plan for the referendum. “Every time I would visit the high school, I was almost ashamed of the patchwork building,” said John.
“Teachers and kids were in a physical environment that left you wondering how they were able to achieve the outstanding educational successes the school was noted for. Something had to be done if our kids were going to have the benefits of a building that was conducive to optimum achievement,” he said.
“Having lost badly in 1992, I was really nervous about this referendum. Luckily, I heard that WEAC had a program designed to help school districts pass their referenda.
"As a WEAC member, I called and a WEAC staff person was instrumental in helping us get our YES committee organized and on track,” said Peggy.
“Every community needs a beacon – something to be proud of. PRIDE was the thing that seemed to jump into my head, “ said John. “The YES committee chose BRONCO PRIDE as their slogan for the referendum.”
With Peggy again at the helm, the BRONCO PRIDE Committee was born. It began to target voters with personal telephone calls and follow-up mailings.
“It worked like the spokes of a wheel,” said John. “We called key people and each of them called others within their circle of friends in the districts.”
“Two things really helped us in this effort. The first was to keep focused on the supporters and their circles of acquaintances,” said Peggy. “The second was the UGHS students who did many of the tasks that were required by the PRIDE committee. Their drive and enthusiasm were what kept the parent members of the committee going, and it paid off.”
The referendum won by 134 votes.
“The look and the excitement of the kids that night when the totals were announced really can’t be described,” said John.
Then, in predictable teacher fashion, Peggy added, “I credit the UGHS students with the victory. Without their help, we wouldn’t have won.”
Today, construction progress is moving slowly at Union Grove. Changes are being made to the plans as the project moves along because an increasing number of people seem to have caught the spirit of BRONCO PRIDE.
And that is really what the referendum was all about in the first place. When communities like Union Grove move aggressively to make changes that will result in even better educational results, everyone benefits. BRONCO PRIDE appears alive and well throughout Union Grove, not just in the high school.
Public schools like the high school in Union Grove work. Parents like Peggy and John Holland recognized that fact and by their support and hard work, the students in the elementary districts that feed into the “Bronco Corral” will now have an even better educational experience. That’s what it means to “Build On the Best”.
Posted December 4, 1997
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