Artist of the Week - James Firkus is an 8th grade student in art. James assignment was to make a glass mosaic with a mirror. James piece measures 1' x 1' and is wonderful! James came up with a fun design, cut his glass pieces well, glued and grouted his work. James is a creative student who excels in 3D work. As a young 6th grade student he even came in after school to learn the potter's wheel. James glass mosaic will be featured in our May art show.
Virtual Learning Day 4/2/2026
Due to the Ice Storm Warning that covers our district and the report of significant ice accumulation and hazardous road conditions between the hours of 4am and 10am tomorrow, we have decided to go to a virtual format for the day. All school buildings will be closed. Staff and students will participate in virtual education as planned per your building administration. There will be NO after school activities. Stay safe and see you next Tuesday!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for the home opener Monday, April 6th @ 4:30 pm.
✔️ Metals students are excited to show off their new welding helmets, generously donated by Walts Petroleum.
✔️ An advanced welding student has been working on a cattle feeder project.
✔️ Car Care students are diving into braking systems.
✔️ Intro to Metals students proudly completed their sheet metal toolboxes.
✔️ Construction students are applying trim to the new ticket booths.
✔️ Welding students have been busy repairing the school’s snow plow.
Great work by all of our students; learning real skills and getting the job done!
Artist of the Week - Mia Flores-Zdroik is a senior in TC Pride this semester, which is a class dedicated to making art for our school. Mia has been in art her entire high school career. She has taken many classes . Mia has done extra work this year with our collaboration projects between the elementary and high school students. Mia plans to go into early education for a career. Mia has been a delight to have over the years. Her kindness, hard work and creativity have been impressive. This is Mia's senior tile, measuring 4' x 2'. It is her legacy she will leave at TC for future generations to enjoy for years to come. We wish Mia all the best and are proud of all her artistic efforts through the years!
More 5K handprints. An art collaboration from Elementary to High School, with memories made!
Today we explored the Science and Industry Museum, then wrapped up the night with dinner and an amazing show at Medieval Times. Lots of learning, laughs, and great memories already, and we’re just getting started! 🏰⚔️
Artist of the Week - Maria Landeros is a junior in 2D Art, section 4. Maria is a fantastic artist and has been making exceptional work at TC for years. Maria's assignment was to create an art piece that evoked emotion when looked at. Maria did an excellent job on her 14" x 18" canvas. Her use of color, subject matter, highlights and details created a quality work of art.
The public school districts serving Adams, Marquette, and Waushara Counties come together with a single purpose: To advocate for students while honoring our responsibility to taxpayers. This message is not partisan. It is practical. As local education leaders, we are entrusted with delivering strong academic outcomes while managing public resources wisely.
Across Wisconsin, families are navigating higher costs for groceries, utilities, fuel, and health care. School districts are facing those same financial realities. The price of transporting students, heating and powering our buildings, providing meals, and maintaining employee benefits has climbed significantly. Inflation has not spared public education.
When the state reported a $4 billion surplus, we believed it signaled an opportunity to acknowledge these shared economic pressures. Yet K–12 public schools received no increase in general state aid in the most recent biennium. At a time of rising costs, flat funding functions as a reduction.
Our districts have long exercised fiscal discipline. However, when state support fails to keep pace with inflation, the financial burden does not disappear — it shifts locally. Through the state funding formula and recurring referendums, communities are left to bridge the gap. For our families, farmers, retirees, and small businesses, this growing reliance on property taxes is neither sustainable nor equitable.
Wisconsin needs a bipartisan agreement that restores stability to school funding. The current impasse limits responsible long-term planning and forces districts into short-term, referendum-driven solutions. Historically, our state provided annual per-pupil adjustments tied to inflation, offering predictability and shared responsibility. Those cost-of-living adjustments were eliminated during the 2009 recession and have never been reinstated, despite years of economic recovery.
We believe there is a constructive path forward — one consistent with a true “Wisconsin Way” of compromise and cooperation.
1. Restore Inflationary Adjustments to State Aid
Reinstating a statutory link between per-pupil funding and the Consumer Price Index — a framework first advanced under Governor Tommy Thompson — would ensure funding keeps pace with real-world costs. This is not an expansion of spending; it is preservation of purchasing power and planning stability.
2. Utilize Current Surpluses for Immediate Relief
The state’s growing surplus, built from taxpayer contributions, presents an opportunity to provide meaningful property tax relief while delivering an immediate increase in state aid. Doing so would ease operational strain on districts and reduce pressure on local taxpayers.
3. Reestablish Predictability Through Bipartisan Commitment
Our communities need stability. Moving away from referendum-to-referendum budgeting allows districts to focus on improving student achievement, strengthening workforce readiness, and expanding opportunities rather than navigating financial uncertainty.
Wisconsin’s long-term economic strength depends on the quality of its public schools. Previous generations benefited from robust educational programming — art, music, physical education, libraries, and school nursing services were standard offerings. Without funding that reflects actual costs, districts will be forced to scale back opportunities at the very moment students need them most.
We are not requesting unchecked spending. We are calling for a return to a proven, bipartisan funding structure that once positioned Wisconsin as a national leader in both educational quality and fiscal stewardship.
We respectfully urge you to move beyond the current stalemate and work together toward a practical, responsible solution that supports students while protecting taxpayers.
Sincerely,
The School Districts of Adams, Marquette, and Waushara Counties
Adams-Friendship, Almond-Bancroft, Montello, Tri-County, Wautoma, Westfield, and Wild Rose
CC:
Governor Evers, Rep. Peterson, Sen. Cabral-Guevara, Rep. Dahlman, Sen. Jagler, Sen. Testin, Rep. Krug
