>> A DECADE AFTER ACT 10 THE
WORD "RECALL" IS BACK IN
WISCONSIN POLITICS, THIS TIME
WITH NATIONAL ATTENTION DRAWN TO
A SCHOOL BOARD RACE IN
SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.
REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY EXPLORES
WHY THE RACE HAS GARNERED SUCH A
SPOTLIGHT.
>> IT STARTED WITH THE PANDEMIC
AND OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS.
>> CHRIS SCHULTZ JOINED THE
MEQUON THIENSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD
IN 2015 AFTER RETIRING AS A
SCIENCE TEACHER.
HER DISTRICT GRAPPLED WITH HOW
TO RUN SCHOOLS AMID THE
PANDEMIC.
>> WE HAD PARENTS ON BOTH SIDES
CONCERNED WITH MANDATORY MASKING
VERSUS OPTIONAL MASKING AND THAT
ISSUE CONTINUED AND DEVELOPED
AND NOT MUCH STRONGER TOWARD THE
END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>> THAT CULMINATED AUGUST 23,
WHEN AMBER SCHROEDER AND OTHER
ORGANIZERS BEGAN THE RECALL
PROCESS FOR FOUR MEMBERS OF THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
>> WE WANT TO SEE A LOT OF
CHANGE, THE FOCUS BROUGHT BACK
TO THE CHILDREN, THE KIDS IN THE
DISTRICT.
WE WANT TO SEE MORE PARENTAL
ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR KIDS.
>> THE GROUP RESTORE MTSD IS
RUNNING AGAINST THE MEMBERS
ELIGIBLE TO BE RECALLED.
SCARLETT JOHNSON IS RUNNING.
>> WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY OUR
SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNS.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING UP TO
THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW,
PETITIONING THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR
CHANGE.
>> IT'S PERSONAL.
IT MATTERS TO ME.
IT MATTERS TO THE COMMUNITY.
HEY, I'M DOING A NEWS INTERVIEW
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MY KIDS.
IT'S ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS' KIDS,
FRIENDS' KIDS, STRANGERS' KIDS.
WE COULD NOT WAIT ANY LONGER AND
WATCH THE DECLAIN HAPPENING.
>> THAT'S A POINT OF AGREEMENT
FOR ALL SIGNED.
>> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE
ARE PARENTS THAT ARE
AUTHENTICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
OUR DISTRICT AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT AND
THEY WANT US TO CONTINUE TO BE
IN THE TOP, WANT US TO BE NUMBER
ONE, RIGHT?
AS DO WE ALL.
WE ALL WANT OUR DISTRICT TO BE
THE BEST IT CAN BE.
BUT INTRODUCTION OF POLITICS
INTO THIS CONFLICTED, THOUGH,
HAS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE REALLY
MUDDIED THE WATERS.
>> SCHOOL BOARD RACES HAVE
TURNED INTO A PROXY OVER THINGS
LIKE THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND
CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
WISCONSIN IS AMONG THE STATES
WITH THE MOST RECALL EFFORTS
NATIONALLY AND HAS DRAWN
ATTENTION FROM POLITICAL
PARTISANS.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH HAS CLOSE TIES
WITH RECALL ORGANIZERS AND THE
CAMPAIGN HAS RECEIVED THE
BACKING OF RICHARD UIHLEIN.
>> BECAUSE MAYBE OF THE
POLITICAL FLAVOR, IT'S MUCH MORE
CONTROVERSIAL CONVERSATIONS
BEING HAD.
MY HEART IS CRYING OUT.
PLEASE LET'S TAKE CARE OF OUR
KIDS.
>> A U SUCCESSFUL RECALL COULD E
A BLUEPRINT AROUND THE STATE AS
VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS NEXT