LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - Tell Evers not to veto sports bill

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Every female should read this act as passed in both the Wisconsin Assembly and the same Act passed, 21-11, in the Senate. Now Governor Evers is going to veto the bill and says, “damn proud to do it.” How can he be proud? Doesn’t he have a wife, mother, female children, grandchildren etc.? Is this what he really wants for their future? Disgusting if that is the case. See the text of the bill or search for the complete narrative online at 2023 Assembly Bill 377.

Call 608-266-1212 and tell Gov. Evers “Do not veto this bill.” or email him at govgeneral@wisconsin.gov.

It is time for women and men to stand up for the truth: men/boys and women/girls are born with that biological designation/ sex. There is no mixture in the DNA when these babies are born and are now competing in sports or any other activity that is a designated sex only. Sports all the way from grade school to college are becoming increasingly dangerous for schools that allow transgender males who think they are female play on female teams. Read the stories on these links. I stand with Riley Gaines, who has had the stamina to do what is right and stand for truth not craziness as it is being perpetrated by the media and other people in this country. The hidden agenda is nobody wants to believe it.

Take time to read Assembly and Senate Bill 377. Then call or email Governor Evers.

“AN ACT to amend 118.13 (1); and to create 118.132 of the statutes; relating to:designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants.”

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau: “This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as falling into one of three categories based on the sex of the participating pupils. The three designations are 1) males, 2) females, and 3) males and females. The bill defines “sex” as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport.”

Joanne Leonard Wausau

My name is Bernie Wenzel. My wife, Jen, and I are former teachers and now business owners in Stratford. The upcoming elections, from now and until the presidential election in November, are possibly the most important of our lifetime. If you are not happy with the direction our country is heading in, then voting at the local level is the best way to make a direct difference.

The spring 2024 election, April 2, will include voting for two out of three candidates for the Stratford School District School Board. Our votes will be cast for Tyler Skaya and Kyle Jochimsen. We first knew Tyler and Kyle as we followed Stratford Tiger High School wrestling and watched them work together with their teammates to achieve remarkable success at the high school level. There is something incredibly special about the character of wrestlers. Tyler and Kyle’s hard-working and motivated characters are unmatched as exemplified in their high school wrestling careers.

Fast forward a couple of years, and we were able to get to know Tyler and Kyle on a more personal level as our daughters competed on the Stratford cross country team together. They are deeply committed to God, family, community, and country. They are genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of our country, the Village of Stratford, its citizens, businesses and especially its schools.

As parents of five children, the following priorities of the Stratford School Board are extremely important to us:

n Students, faculty, and administration working together with parents, Stratford citizens and businesses, for the improvement and advancement of the entire community.

n Seeing that our children, upon graduating, are prepared to be leaders themselves, with the skills and abilities necessary to solve everyday problems in their personal as well as work life.

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n Emphasizing the core subjects all students need for sustained employment as well as the character-defining qualities that mold the individual to be the best they can be overall.

Tyler and Kyle are the common-sense choices for the Stratford School District School Board. Please join us in voting for them. For more information, visit their Facebook page, Tyler Skaya and Kyle Jochimsen for Stratford School Board.

Bernie and Jen Wenzel Stratford

Vote for Levelius

I am writing this letter in support of the election of Julie Levelius to the Stratford School Board.

I first met Julie when she was the third grade teacher for my son. Hers was the classroom where everyone wanted to be. Guinea pigs served as class pets, and baby chicks hatched under her care each spring. Even after her many years of teaching, she was enthusiastic and truly loved her profession. She loved teaching children, and I always felt safe with my kids in her hands.

I have been attending school board meetings over the past several years and I am concerned that politics has crept its way into our schools. As a community member and a parent, I think that it is time to refocus on what is important: the education of our children.

My father always taught me that we take care of our children first; a good public education is essential for a good community. I know that Julie as a candidate has her heart and mind in the right place. She is a smart woman who has dedicated her life to education. Our school board and our community would greatly benefit from her experience should she be elected.

Please consider voting for Julie Levelius on April 2.

Kristen Rasmussen Stratford

Ask candidates for position on books

Before the 2024-25 school year, the Stratford School Board convened a community committee, per district policy, to review books in the 6th through 12th grade classrooms containing questionable content (eg. sexual situations, violence, vulgar language). That community committee decided to remove some of the books.

There are three candidates running for two Stratford School Board positions this spring. You can find all of them running campaigns on Facebook. I encourage you to ask each of them where they stand on the use of of these kinds of books in school classrooms.

I am appreciative of those who give of their time and efforts to serve on the school board. I know the importance of placing the right people in these influential positions. I want to see people elected who will uphold the common-sense values of the Stratford community, keeping our school a safe and welcoming place for our children to learn and grow together.

Let’s continue to keep our school a place where we can confidently send our kids every day, knowing that they will be cared for and educated in a way that is safe and beneficial to their growth and development.

Joe Cable Stratford

Candidate explains 3-point philosophy

My name is Julie Levelius. I am a candidate in the April 2 election for Stratford Public Schools Board of Education.

I am very proud of my 37 years of classroom teaching experience and devotion to education. Thirty-five of my teaching career was in the classrooms of Stratford Public Schools, while two were at St. Joseph’s in Stratford. Following my retirement from Stratford Public Schools, I decided to continue to support education by substitute teaching in the area.

I am an educated educator with both masters and bachelors degrees in education.

I truly love teaching as being with children is inspirational! As an educator, I place great value on positive relationships with both the parents and the students.

After intern teaching in Stratford, my husband and I decided to make Stratford our home and bring up our children in this small, close-knit community. All three of our children attended Stratford Public Schools from kindergarten until 12th grade.

I have decided to take the next step to become an active and positive member of Stratford Public Schools Board of Education.

What do you need to know about me as a candidate for school board? I can sum it up in three points, my rules for good school management.

1. Consider all perspectives to ensure the best possible outcome for our students, staff, and community.

2. Always remember that the school board spends taxpayer money and I will treat it with the same care or better than I treat my own financing.

3. Be open to questions, honest about positions, and approachable to all community members.

Julie Levelius Stratford

Son endorses mom for Stratford board

I write this letter in support of electing Julie Levelius to the Stratford School Board.

It should be no surprise that I support my mother’s election to the Stratford School Board, but it’s important to recognize that my mom’s dedication to the traditional American values of hard work, responsibility, and sound judgment made me and my siblings the successful people we are. These values would be an incredible asset to the community as well.

Julie Levelius worked two jobs through much of my adolescence. She served as a teacher in the Stratford School District for 35 years and on the loading dock at Kroeger Floral and Gift in Kronenwetter. This was on top of our weekly church attendance and volunteering in service roles at Zion Lutheran Church, stepping forward with local civic organizations like the Lion’s Club, forming and staffing after school opportunities, and keeping our and her mother’s finances in the green. Her tireless service to this community and tenacity continues to inspire me to this day.

Julie Levelius’s decision making and professional skills are also impeccable. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point enlisted her as a teacher trainer for student teachers, she was nominated many times for a Crystal Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, and instilled in me and my siblings the guiding principle to love your neighbor as yourself. She has been a child advocate all my life. Over the years I’ve seen her work with kids and families going through tough times to include mandated reporting, advising on mental health or behavioral issues, and bringing extra food to school for those who need it. My mom represents a traditional approach to community building and advocacy because she will be here for you.

The best choice for a traditional education and values-based school system in Stratford should lie with a traditional steward: a woman who’s worked for 37 years within the district to success and acclimation. So, I urge you to vote for Julie Levelius for Stratford School Board on April 2 Benjamin Levelius Stratford

Vote for Gibbs

I have served on the Marathon County Board of Supervisors for a number of years. I believe that Kurt Gibbs’ leadership has been extremely good. As county board chair, he has done exceptional work, spending a lot of time staying on top of all of the issues that affect our county. His background in the financial venue has been extremely valuable to our county.

Anyone who has spent the first year on the county board is either overwhelmed and leaves or is ready to dig in and learn. There’s a reason why there are only one term people because they can’t handle it. Our county is huge and it is very diverse. Kurt has stayed on top of the wide array of issues we have to deal with and has done it well.

Please re-elect Kurt to the county board. We need continuity and experience. Jean Maszk, Mosinee District 26 Marathon County Board of Supervisors