Superior teachers, retired UWS professor travel to Capitol

MADISON — Among the thousands who came to Wisconsin Capitol to make the rotunda louder than a jet engine were three District of Superior teachers and a retired University of Superior-Wisconsin professor, who arrived today after starting at 2 a.m.

“The drive didn’t seem that long, really,” Kim Kohlhaas, a first-grade teacher, said. “Not for this.”

“This is not only for us but for our students as well,” said Ruth Ludwig, a teacher with the Superior school district.

The four argue that by stripping away many collective-bargaining rights, as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s bill to balance the budget would do, it could have a trickle-down effect to students.

“When we have a strong working relationship with the administration, students have that support,” Kohlhaas said. “But if we don’t have that strong relationship, we won’t have that quality for our students.”

“It’s scary,” Shelly Theisen, a special education teacher, said.

John Ludwig, who retired from UWS, said he could lose health options or be forced to get medications at big-box stores rather than an independent pharmacist he frequents.

“It could have the affect of pumping our money out of Superior and keeping someone in this town in business to going to a family in Arkansas,” he said, “who will have more money than we will ever know.”

The three teachers said they took a personal leave day and will return to Superior tonight.

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