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