School districts all across the state are dealing with budget cuts. The cuts are affecting lots of programs, like art and music. But two local high school seniors decided to take matters into their own hands to make up for the lost revenue.
For Barb Miller, the art room has always felt like home.
“I think in high school, this was the place to be for me and I'm seeing that with these guys,”
Sam Speaker and Katie Jordan feel the same way.
”The art room just kind of became a sanctuary,” said Katie.
The seniors at Brodhead High School are undertaking a big project.
“We thought we should do a project on art because we both enjoy art so much,” commented Sam.
“They came to me very early with the idea last year when they were juniors,” said Miller.
They're organizing a fundraiser to make up for budget cuts.
“Less material, less things to work with, less projects,” said principal Lenny Lueck.
Two years ago a referendum failed in the district cutting money to the art program by about a third.
“Most school districts have less money,” said Lueck.
Simple supplies like paper and paint are still available but more expensive items are hard to come by.
“So especially when we need a big ticket item like a kiln or a pug mill we have to find the money in creative ways,” said Miller.
These artists are now in the process of making and selling about 200 ceramic bowls.
“We need to get our project out there and we need to get people to know about our project,” said Sam.
The project will culminate in February with a soup dinner.
“Everyone is super supportive like anyone is willing to help us with it and we obviously need donations because two people can't make 200 bowls,” added Katie and Sam.
“This project is going to be benefiting people coming up through the program for many many years,” said Miller.
Art has always been a part of Miller's life and she's glad a couple of her students share the same passion.
“Katie and Sam are awesome art students, any chance they get to come to the art room they take it,” said Miller
