Wisconsin
Wisconsin public schools facing retention challenges
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Wisconsin’s education force is in dire need of support, according to Wisconsin State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly. A report released this week highlights challenges facing the K-12 system.
“We are losing our best and brightest educators at an alarming rate in this state,” Underly said.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released a report on the state’s education workforce, which highlights a need to address retention. It states only 55% of new Wisconsin teachers will stay in the industry after seven years. Only around 18% stayed in the same district. In special education, only around 46% of teachers stay in the industry.
“Let me be blunt, nearly half of the new teachers in Wisconsin leave the state or the profession entirely after just seven years and in special education, the situation is even more dire,” Underly said.
“Special Education is one of those positions that really takes the right person,” Brandon Wick, the HR manager with the Eau Claire Area School District, said. “We have an amazing group across our district for special education but that’s certainly an area that our special education team and leadership is really focusing on with teacher retention.”
Wick said retention is a priority in ECASD.
“We’re always looking to retain and recruit our best teachers and that’s really the lifeblood of our organization,” Wick said.
While the DPI report said staff retention is an issue across the state, locally Wick said at ECASD there’s an 8-10% turnover each year, including retirements.
“One of the things that we’ve done with our compensation plan is typically at about every six years, there’s a retention bump that’s built into our certified scheduled,” Wick said. “So we actually have that of trying to be proactive and make sure we have nice steps for our staff.”
But, the challenges with staffing in Wisconsin’s public schools are far from over. Underly said the schools need more assistance.
“It’s a crisis for our students, our families, our schools and our communities and we must do something now,” Underly said. “Our schools are telling us they need help with fewer teachers. The ones who stay on are stretched thinner and thinner, trying to meet the growing needs of every student. That is a recipe for educator burnout.”
“We want to keep the staff that come here and make sure that they retire here too,” Wick said.
Dr. Underly is running for re-election for the state superintendent seat. She is running against Brittany Kinser, a former special education teacher and elementary school principal.
Copyright 2025 WEAU. All rights reserved.
The move comes after Polaris announced it was separating from Indian Motorcycle.
Powersports company Polaris has announced it plans to wind down the operations at its facility in Osceola which specializes in manufacturing Indian Motorcycle.
The move impacts roughly 200 Wisconsin workers at the facility.
On Jan. 27, during a fourth quarter and full year earnings call for 2025, Polaris said the company expects to sell Indian Motorcycle by the end of the first quarter of 2026 to Carolwood, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. However the company plans to maintain some stake in the company.
Polaris officials said called the sale of Indian Motorcycle was a “difficult decision” and added it was a “move that we believe is best for Polaris and Indian Motorcycle.”
In a post on X, Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin said:
“We have seen this story in Wisconsin too many times – a private equity firm buys a company, hollows it out, & fires its workers, all to pad their profits. It’s simply wrong.”
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The drought is over.
Yuengling beers are now officially available across Wisconsin, as America’s oldest brewery continues its efforts to expand its reach into the Midwest and bring its nearly two-century legacy to the state.
Watch: Yuengling beer now officially available across Wisconsin
Yuengling beer now available in Wisconsin
“For years, Wisconsinites have been asking when they’d finally be able to enjoy a cold Yuengling close to home — often smuggling our beer back from eastern states and sharing their excitement with us on social media,” said Debbie, a sixth-generation Yuengling family member. “That day is finally here. We are so excited that our Wisconsin fans will no longer have to fill their car trunks with six-packs of Lager and can simply order one at their favorite neighborhood bar!”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Yuengling beer is coming to Wisconsin in 2026
Monday’s announcement comes just under two months after the brewery said the family-owned company would be expanding into Wisconsin and Iowa in its latest effort to grow production and distribution in the Midwest.
D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.
The Yuengling Co. was established in 2020 with Molson Coors Beverage Co. as a separate joint venture to lead its expansion efforts. Once distribution begins in Iowa, Yuengling will be available in 30 states.
The brewery’s lineup includes Traditional Lager, Light Lager, Black & Tan, Golden Pilsner, Flight, Premium, Premium Light, Dark Brewed Porter, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Oktoberfest, Bock and Bongo Fizz.
To kick off the statewide celebration, Yuengling will host an official launch party at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Wolski’s in Milwaukee.
D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.
The brewery has provided a locator on its website for fans eager to try it.
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