00:00:00:00 00:00:01:02 >> We all think we know 00:00:01:02 00:00:02:17 what government is. 00:00:02:17 00:00:03:19 >> How it works 00:00:03:19 00:00:04:24 and what it does. 00:00:04:24 00:00:06:05 >> But what is it really? 00:00:06:05 00:00:07:10 What do we mean 00:00:07:10 00:00:09:01 by "government"? 00:00:09:01 00:00:10:12 >> Is it this? 00:00:10:12 00:00:12:08 >> Or this? 00:00:12:08 00:00:13:07 >> Are these people 00:00:13:07 00:00:14:14 the government? 00:00:14:14 00:00:15:25 >> Are you? 00:00:15:25 00:00:16:25 >> These are just some 00:00:16:25 00:00:17:22 of the questions we'll try 00:00:17:22 00:00:18:26 to answer for you today. 00:00:18:26 00:00:21:04 >> On Engage. 00:00:26:19 00:00:27:17 >> Hi, I'm Zach. 00:00:27:17 00:00:28:18 >> And I'm Paloma. 00:00:28:18 00:00:29:21 One of the most important things 00:00:29:21 00:00:30:22 that local government does 00:00:30:22 00:00:31:23 is run public schools, 00:00:31:23 00:00:32:20 like this one. 00:00:32:20 00:00:33:18 >> And who pays for these 00:00:33:18 00:00:34:23 schools, the buildings, 00:00:34:23 00:00:37:00 the equipment, teachers? 00:00:37:00 00:00:38:06 We do. 00:00:38:06 00:00:40:05 You, me, parents, friends, 00:00:40:05 00:00:41:22 anyone who pays their taxes. 00:00:41:22 00:00:42:24 >> So when it comes time to pay 00:00:42:24 00:00:43:28 the bills, it's a pretty good 00:00:43:28 00:00:44:27 bet that people will have 00:00:44:27 00:00:46:09 something to say about it. 00:00:46:09 00:00:47:10 And what happens if there isn't 00:00:47:10 00:00:48:19 enough money to pay those bills? 00:00:48:19 00:00:50:12 What happens to the schools? 00:00:50:12 00:00:51:13 >> Let's take a little trip 00:00:51:13 00:00:53:07 and find out. 00:00:56:12 00:00:58:08 Welcome to Paris! 00:00:58:08 00:00:59:25 (screeching sound) 00:00:59:25 00:01:01:18 No, not that Paris. 00:01:01:18 00:01:04:25 Paris, Wisconsin. 00:01:04:25 00:01:05:29 Tucked away in the southeast 00:01:05:29 00:01:07:02 corner of the state, 00:01:07:02 00:01:08:26 near Kenosha, this rural town 00:01:08:26 00:01:10:20 is home to just over 1,500 00:01:10:20 00:01:14:23 men, women and children. 00:01:14:23 00:01:16:07 Of the many notable landmarks, 00:01:16:07 00:01:17:19 one in particular 00:01:17:19 00:01:20:15 might not catch your eye. 00:01:20:15 00:01:21:18 But right now, an event 00:01:21:18 00:01:22:24 is taking place inside 00:01:22:24 00:01:24:00 this building that will shape 00:01:24:00 00:01:25:04 the future of this town 00:01:25:04 00:01:27:21 for years to come. 00:01:27:21 00:01:29:21 It all starts in this building, 00:01:29:21 00:01:31:09 Paris Elementary School, 00:01:31:09 00:01:32:18 rated one of the top schools 00:01:32:18 00:01:34:28 in Wisconsin. 00:01:34:28 00:01:35:28 >> It's still a small, 00:01:35:28 00:01:37:13 close-knit group of students. 00:01:37:13 00:01:38:15 The teachers 00:01:38:15 00:01:39:12 know all the students. 00:01:39:12 00:01:40:15 All the students 00:01:40:15 00:01:41:11 know all the teachers. 00:01:41:11 00:01:42:05 >> My math teacher 00:01:42:05 00:01:43:06 is Mrs. Schon. 00:01:43:06 00:01:44:21 >> My teacher is Mrs. Renak. 00:01:44:21 00:01:45:19 >> My math teacher, 00:01:45:19 00:01:46:27 she's really cool. 00:01:46:27 00:01:47:25 >> She's probably 00:01:47:25 00:01:48:22 my favorite teacher. 00:01:48:22 00:01:50:02 >> She's awesome. 00:01:50:02 00:01:51:02 >> I don't really have 00:01:51:02 00:01:52:02 a favorite teacher. 00:01:52:02 00:01:54:02 They're all really nice. 00:01:54:02 00:01:55:03 >> I am a graduate 00:01:55:03 00:01:57:01 of the class of 1982. 00:01:57:01 00:01:58:26 That's me, right there, 00:01:58:26 00:02:00:13 with the really slick 00:02:00:13 00:02:02:29 plaid sports coat. 00:02:02:29 00:02:04:23 >> It's not just the outside 00:02:04:23 00:02:06:16 of the school that's good, 00:02:06:16 00:02:07:21 it's the inside. 00:02:07:21 00:02:08:26 >> Paris has a very 00:02:08:26 00:02:10:10 family-like setting. 00:02:10:10 00:02:11:19 >> As always, a fun place to be, 00:02:11:19 00:02:12:24 a fun place to learn. 00:02:12:24 00:02:13:24 >> The school itself, I think, 00:02:13:24 00:02:15:01 is wonderfully run. 00:02:15:01 00:02:16:02 I think the administrator 00:02:16:02 00:02:17:08 does a great job. 00:02:17:08 00:02:18:06 I've been impressed 00:02:18:06 00:02:19:06 with the teachers 00:02:19:06 00:02:20:07 that my children have had. 00:02:20:07 00:02:21:10 >> They love their school. 00:02:21:10 00:02:22:08 >> I think 00:02:22:08 00:02:23:03 it's a great community. 00:02:23:03 00:02:24:02 >> It's a great environment 00:02:24:02 00:02:25:03 for them. 00:02:25:03 00:02:27:00 >> It's a great school. 00:02:27:28 00:02:29:10 >> But for all the wonderful 00:02:29:10 00:02:30:16 things about Paris and its 00:02:30:16 00:02:31:27 school, a storm is moving 00:02:31:27 00:02:33:04 through, and it's splitting 00:02:33:04 00:02:35:01 the residents apart. 00:02:35:01 00:02:37:08 >> Currently, we are showing 00:02:37:08 00:02:38:15 that we will not have enough 00:02:38:15 00:02:40:14 money to run the operations 00:02:40:14 00:02:41:25 of the school. 00:02:41:25 00:02:42:24 >> Yes, we are in 00:02:42:24 00:02:44:08 financial trouble right now. 00:02:44:08 00:02:45:16 >> If another source of income 00:02:45:16 00:02:47:25 is not found. 00:02:47:25 00:02:48:24 >> We were in 00:02:48:24 00:02:49:25 very serious shape. 00:02:49:25 00:02:51:18 There was a crisis at hand. 00:02:51:18 00:02:52:22 >> This school is in danger 00:02:52:22 00:02:54:20 of closing. 00:02:56:06 00:02:58:09 >> With funding from the state, 00:02:58:09 00:02:59:16 and revenue limits in place, 00:02:59:16 00:03:01:05 we're not able to generate 00:03:01:05 00:03:02:13 the revenue that's necessary 00:03:02:13 00:03:04:12 to operate our building. 00:03:04:12 00:03:05:12 >> Expenditures are 00:03:05:12 00:03:06:22 just exceeding our revenues. 00:03:06:22 00:03:07:20 >> It's shocking to see 00:03:07:20 00:03:09:18 that this situation 00:03:09:18 00:03:11:28 was created so quickly. 00:03:11:28 00:03:13:03 And you know, 00:03:13:03 00:03:15:10 it's a train wreck. 00:03:15:10 00:03:16:11 >> To school officials, 00:03:16:11 00:03:17:26 the answer seemed simple. 00:03:17:26 00:03:19:00 Raise more money 00:03:19:00 00:03:21:11 by increasing taxes. 00:03:21:11 00:03:22:23 So in April, the town of Paris 00:03:22:23 00:03:24:28 held a referendum. 00:03:24:28 00:03:26:09 >> A referendum is where you go 00:03:26:09 00:03:28:12 to the public asking a question. 00:03:28:12 00:03:29:10 And in this case, 00:03:29:10 00:03:30:25 we are asking the question, 00:03:30:25 00:03:32:25 can we have operating funds to 00:03:32:25 00:03:35:08 continue operating the school? 00:03:35:08 00:03:36:08 >> A referendum is kind of the 00:03:36:08 00:03:37:17 natural step that you take 00:03:37:17 00:03:39:02 if you're a school district, 00:03:39:02 00:03:41:05 if you're facing a shortfall. 00:03:41:05 00:03:42:13 >> So, the referendum is 00:03:42:13 00:03:43:18 basically asking the people 00:03:43:18 00:03:45:05 for permission to tax them 00:03:45:05 00:03:46:22 above the revenue caps 00:03:46:22 00:03:48:11 that are set by the state. 00:03:48:11 00:03:50:11 >> And on April 7, 00:03:50:11 00:03:53:04 the residents of Paris voted. 00:03:53:04 00:03:54:24 >> The first referendum failed. 00:03:54:24 00:03:55:28 >> The April referendum 00:03:55:28 00:03:57:05 failed 3-1. 00:03:57:05 00:03:58:08 >> And I was actually shocked 00:03:58:08 00:04:00:23 that it failed 3-1. 00:04:00:23 00:04:03:08 I was overjoyed that it failed. 00:04:03:08 00:04:05:08 But I thought it would be 00:04:05:08 00:04:07:02 much closer. 00:04:07:02 00:04:08:17 Being a retired fella, 00:04:08:17 00:04:11:07 living on a fixed income, 00:04:11:07 00:04:13:28 I don't want my taxes to go up. 00:04:13:28 00:04:15:23 And that's when I started 00:04:15:23 00:04:17:01 taking an interest in saying, 00:04:17:01 00:04:18:14 well, why are you asking 00:04:18:14 00:04:19:19 for a tax increase? 00:04:19:19 00:04:20:25 What about spending? 00:04:20:25 00:04:21:22 >> They were spending 00:04:21:22 00:04:22:26 too much money at the school. 00:04:22:26 00:04:23:26 >> It's all 00:04:23:26 00:04:25:08 just reckless spending. 00:04:25:08 00:04:26:10 >> I say they used our money 00:04:26:10 00:04:27:13 poorly. 00:04:27:13 00:04:28:29 >> We heard from the people 00:04:28:29 00:04:30:17 that it was too much money. 00:04:30:17 00:04:32:09 >> Once we cut our spending, and 00:04:32:09 00:04:34:03 altered the way that we operate, 00:04:34:03 00:04:35:10 we realized that that still 00:04:35:10 00:04:37:04 wasn't enough to cover that gap. 00:04:37:04 00:04:38:03 >> At that point, 00:04:38:03 00:04:39:13 the board had a meeting. 00:04:39:13 00:04:41:00 We decided that we needed 00:04:41:00 00:04:42:21 to go back to referendum again. 00:04:42:21 00:04:43:25 We went back 00:04:43:25 00:04:45:05 for a lesser amount. 00:04:45:05 00:04:46:05 And we went 00:04:46:05 00:04:47:27 for a set period of time. 00:04:47:27 00:04:49:00 It's very important to 00:04:49:00 00:04:50:22 hear input from the community. 00:04:50:22 00:04:51:19 They are the people 00:04:51:19 00:04:52:28 who elected us to represent them 00:04:52:28 00:04:55:17 on the school board. 00:04:55:17 00:04:57:00 >> With a second referendum, 00:04:57:00 00:04:58:04 and the stakes more clearly 00:04:58:04 00:04:59:19 laid out, both sides geared up 00:04:59:19 00:05:01:02 for a strong 00:05:01:02 00:05:03:05 and vigorous debate. 00:05:03:05 00:05:04:09 >> When the referendum was 00:05:04:09 00:05:07:09 defeated so hugely in April, 00:05:07:09 00:05:08:12 we started going 00:05:08:12 00:05:09:26 to the town board meetings, 00:05:09:26 00:05:11:28 the school board meetings. 00:05:11:28 00:05:13:06 The first thing I learned 00:05:13:06 00:05:14:16 is that when you show up to 00:05:14:16 00:05:16:21 a group a people with an agenda, 00:05:16:21 00:05:18:25 they let you lead. 00:05:18:25 00:05:19:29 And that was really 00:05:19:29 00:05:21:11 the beginning 00:05:21:11 00:05:24:17 of the "Vote Yes" movement. 00:05:24:17 00:05:26:20 The purpose of the Vote Yes 00:05:26:20 00:05:28:12 committee was to get 00:05:28:12 00:05:30:03 the word out to the community 00:05:30:03 00:05:32:26 about the referendum issue. 00:05:32:26 00:05:34:17 We really wanted to educate 00:05:34:17 00:05:36:04 all the voters in the community 00:05:36:04 00:05:37:17 about the ramifications 00:05:37:17 00:05:40:03 of a "No" vote, 00:05:40:03 00:05:42:04 and the benefits Paris School 00:05:42:04 00:05:43:20 brings to our community. 00:05:43:20 00:05:44:23 We sponsored 00:05:44:23 00:05:46:09 a sign painting event. 00:05:46:09 00:05:47:20 The purpose was to involve 00:05:47:20 00:05:49:18 the students of Paris School 00:05:49:18 00:05:51:16 in the process. 00:05:51:16 00:05:53:09 We painted large, 4x8 plywood 00:05:53:09 00:05:54:24 signs: Save our School, 00:05:54:24 00:05:56:22 Save Paris School. 00:05:56:22 00:05:57:24 We had the kids 00:05:57:24 00:05:59:02 put their handprints on them. 00:05:59:02 00:06:00:06 >> There are many people who 00:06:00:06 00:06:01:14 are very organized right now 00:06:01:14 00:06:03:14 in support of the referendum 00:06:03:14 00:06:05:26 and against the referendum. 00:06:07:11 00:06:08:16 >> How do you get your message 00:06:08:16 00:06:09:21 into every home 00:06:09:21 00:06:10:26 so that they can read it 00:06:10:26 00:06:12:24 and evaluate it for themselves? 00:06:12:24 00:06:14:00 I started 00:06:14:00 00:06:15:27 by doing a mailing list. 00:06:15:27 00:06:17:04 I said, how many people 00:06:17:04 00:06:19:16 do I have to reach? 00:06:19:16 00:06:22:11 I sent out 635 direct mailers 00:06:22:11 00:06:27:06 to all of these people. 00:06:27:06 00:06:28:28 That way, I got my points across 00:06:28:28 00:06:31:07 to counter their points. 00:06:31:07 00:06:32:11 >> Well, I'm a graphic designer, 00:06:32:11 00:06:33:23 so I was able to contribute 00:06:33:23 00:06:35:18 all the print pieces and help 00:06:35:18 00:06:37:07 with laying out the signs 00:06:37:07 00:06:39:09 that are all over our community. 00:06:39:09 00:06:41:17 I help spread the word that way. 00:06:41:17 00:06:42:21 >> One of the things, you know, 00:06:42:21 00:06:43:24 I personally like to do 00:06:43:24 00:06:45:08 is email stuff. 00:06:45:08 00:06:47:06 Because I can put facts and 00:06:47:06 00:06:51:10 information in an email, 00:06:51:10 00:06:52:27 where it's right there 00:06:52:27 00:06:54:22 for somebody to see. 00:06:54:22 00:06:55:24 You have to educate 00:06:55:24 00:06:56:28 your friends, your neighbors. 00:06:56:28 00:06:58:07 And you have to talk to them. 00:06:58:07 00:07:00:09 You have to email them. 00:07:00:09 00:07:01:18 You have to get the word out 00:07:01:18 00:07:03:25 by any means possible. 00:07:03:25 00:07:05:02 >> We stayed positive. 00:07:05:02 00:07:06:27 We put out our facts 00:07:06:27 00:07:08:29 and let them stand. 00:07:08:29 00:07:11:03 And that's been our mission. 00:07:11:03 00:07:14:13 I'm hopeful that we'll prevail. 00:07:14:13 00:07:15:27 >> I guess we'll find out 00:07:15:27 00:07:18:05 later today. 00:07:20:11 00:07:21:18 >> Today, we are voting 00:07:21:18 00:07:22:23 on the referendum 00:07:22:23 00:07:25:11 for the Paris School district. 00:07:25:11 00:07:26:19 >> I went to Paris. 00:07:26:19 00:07:27:28 I graduated from there. 00:07:27:28 00:07:29:00 I don't want to see the school 00:07:29:00 00:07:30:12 get closed, so I came to vote. 00:07:30:12 00:07:31:17 >> Just make sure 00:07:31:17 00:07:33:02 that there's ten in each one. 00:07:33:02 00:07:34:25 I'm the elected Clerk-Treasurer. 00:07:34:25 00:07:36:11 I set up the election. 00:07:36:11 00:07:37:22 I get my poll workers ready 00:07:37:22 00:07:38:23 here. 00:07:38:23 00:07:39:28 I've been here 00:07:39:28 00:07:41:07 since 5:45 this morning. 00:07:41:07 00:07:42:10 >> We just sign them in 00:07:42:10 00:07:43:13 so they can vote, that 00:07:43:13 00:07:44:20 they're a legitimate voter. 00:07:44:20 00:07:45:26 And we give them a ballot 00:07:45:26 00:07:47:11 and keep track. 00:07:47:11 00:07:48:11 >> I was at one 00:07:48:11 00:07:49:16 of the town meetings, 00:07:49:16 00:07:50:18 where they were discussing it. 00:07:50:18 00:07:52:05 That's how I found out about it. 00:07:52:05 00:07:53:12 >> These issues don't affect us 00:07:53:12 00:07:56:25 quite at this time in our age, 00:07:56:25 00:07:58:00 but later on, 00:07:58:00 00:07:59:03 they will affect us. 00:07:59:03 00:08:00:05 That's why we should 00:08:00:05 00:08:01:15 start voting now. 00:08:01:15 00:08:02:17 >> If you don't vote, then don't 00:08:02:17 00:08:05:04 complain about what's happening. 00:08:05:04 00:08:06:05 >> This voting right here 00:08:06:05 00:08:07:05 is pretty much 00:08:07:05 00:08:08:19 going to make it happen. 00:08:08:19 00:08:09:16 >> It's all dependent 00:08:09:16 00:08:10:15 on this voting. 00:08:10:15 00:08:11:18 >> Yes, it is the first time 00:08:11:18 00:08:13:08 voting. 00:08:13:08 00:08:14:07 >> So far, 00:08:14:07 00:08:15:10 it's been a good turnout. 00:08:15:10 00:08:17:16 Better than 50% already. 00:08:17:16 00:08:19:09 So, any time you get 50%, 00:08:19:09 00:08:21:04 I guess it's a good election. 00:08:22:24 00:08:25:15 >> Okay, quitting time. 00:08:28:04 00:08:29:07 What you'll want to do first 00:08:29:07 00:08:30:09 is just separate 00:08:30:09 00:08:32:13 all the yesses and nos. 00:08:39:24 00:08:41:03 The yesses, 00:08:41:03 00:08:43:14 there were 406 yesses, 00:08:43:14 00:08:46:23 and 274 nos. 00:08:46:23 00:08:47:24 I believe it's actually 00:08:47:24 00:08:49:21 brought people closer together. 00:08:49:21 00:08:50:23 People that probably didn't 00:08:50:23 00:08:52:08 have a cup of coffee together 00:08:52:08 00:08:53:22 before this, 00:08:53:22 00:08:55:08 and now they have been. 00:08:55:08 00:08:56:15 >> I voted yes, 00:08:56:15 00:08:57:28 because as the schools go, 00:08:57:28 00:08:59:16 so does our community. 00:08:59:16 00:09:00:19 >> Local government 00:09:00:19 00:09:02:25 has tons of power. 00:09:02:25 00:09:04:10 >> All of us are more effective 00:09:04:10 00:09:06:18 in our own ways. 00:09:06:18 00:09:08:04 >> Our fathers and grandfathers 00:09:08:04 00:09:09:14 have fought for freedom 00:09:09:14 00:09:10:22 in this country, 00:09:10:22 00:09:12:05 to give us the right to live 00:09:12:05 00:09:14:10 in a democracy, which allows 00:09:14:10 00:09:16:05 us to all have a voice 00:09:16:05 00:09:18:01 in this country. 00:09:18:01 00:09:19:10 And for us to not take 00:09:19:10 00:09:21:04 advantage of that, I believe, 00:09:21:04 00:09:23:27 would be a serious mistake. 00:09:23:27 00:09:24:27 >> I always take my kids 00:09:24:27 00:09:26:09 to vote. 00:09:26:09 00:09:27:21 It's their privilege 00:09:27:21 00:09:29:01 for living here. 00:09:29:01 00:09:30:03 >> I need to keep going 00:09:30:03 00:09:31:10 to school board meetings. 00:09:31:10 00:09:33:11 I need to stay active online 00:09:33:11 00:09:34:18 with the other people 00:09:34:18 00:09:36:20 that are observing this process. 00:09:36:20 00:09:37:22 You can't wait till 00:09:37:22 00:09:39:04 there's a crisis to organize. 00:09:39:04 00:09:40:07 You can avert crises 00:09:40:07 00:09:41:26 by being involved 00:09:41:26 00:09:43:12 and staying active, 00:09:43:12 00:09:44:18 and holding elected officials 00:09:44:18 00:09:45:27 accountable. 00:09:45:27 00:09:46:28 >> You're your own 00:09:46:28 00:09:48:00 greatest asset. 00:09:48:00 00:09:49:08 Go learn. 00:09:49:08 00:09:51:01 Go solve it for yourself. 00:09:51:01 00:09:52:20 It doesn't have to be my way. 00:09:52:20 00:09:54:04 I was persistent. 00:09:54:04 00:09:55:14 I never gave up. 00:09:55:14 00:09:56:23 >> At least be willing 00:09:56:23 00:09:58:00 to talk one on one, which is 00:09:58:00 00:10:01:01 where any changes happen. 00:10:01:01 00:10:03:27 It's been a great experience. 00:10:08:07 00:10:09:13 >> For more information, 00:10:09:13 00:10:10:25 visit us on the Web at: 00:10:10:25 00:10:14:12 ecb.org/engage