Contact: Rebecca Normington, 715-221-9726, normington.rebecca@securityhealth.org

MARSHFIELD – Wisconsin has nearly 6,000 public schools serving more than 870,000 students. In many districts, state funding for K-12 education isn’t meeting the needs of public schools. Like other districts, the Spencer Parent Teacher Association (PTA) works to help fill those gaps and support its area students. This group of parents works to raise funds for the Spencer School District so students can excel academically and personally.

Marshfield Clinic Health System Food Service Aide and Spencer PTA member, Melanie Saalsaa nominated the Spencer PTA for a Security Health Plan Employee-Driven Corporate Giving grant. Each month Security Health Plan awards a $1,000 grant to a different charity or organization that is nominated by a Marshfield Clinic Health System employee. Employees are encouraged to nominate organizations making a positive difference in the community.

The funding from the grant will be used to fulfill teachers’ wish lists for items that aren’t covered by the district’s budget. Each year, teachers submit a wish list to the PTA for things that would help their students and classrooms. In previous years, the PTA purchased a sensory table, microscopes, STEM robotics and wheelchair-accessible playground equipment.

As a first-year member, Saalsaa observed how much the group does for students and schools.

“I’m impressed with the time and effort the PTA members give in order to benefit the school,” Saalsaa said. “My child is a student in the Spencer School District, and I’ve seen how the PTA provides needed resources to support academic and personal growth for the students.”

In addition to providing volunteer resources, the group focuses on sourcing funds through grants, fundraisers and individual donations. They not only help fulfill teachers’ wish lists, they also provide scholarships for high school seniors, donations to the Lucille Tack Center for the Arts and support high school extracurricular groups like the FFA and National Honor Society.

“The resources the PTA provides helps to raise well-educated students,” Saalsaa added.

Spencer PTA holds fundraisers throughout the year, including an annual holiday craft sale and logo wear apparel sales. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of their holiday craft sale in November. The group hopes to safely resume this event in 2021. They are currently holding a stadium chair sale. Regular sized chairs are $45 and large chairs are $50. Anyone interested in purchasing a stadium chair may contact Spencer PTA President Brooke Krause at 715-207-1531.

Spencer PTA always welcomes volunteers and donations. For more information, please call 715-207-1531 or visit their Facebook page.

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