Conversation Documentation

East Troy Area School District School Board - Referendum Discussion

About This Page

This page contains a verbatim transcript of a private conversation that took place on the Nextdoor platform between Paul Rains and Danielle Foster between February 27, 2023 and January 22, 2026.

The transcript has not been altered for content. Minor formatting adjustments have been made solely for readability.

The conversation was saved within the Nextdoor platform, where messages are retained by default. Danielle Foster was aware that the conversation was being preserved and has consented to its publication.

This material is presented for informational purposes to provide access to the statements made within that exchange. Readers are encouraged to review the conversation in full and draw their own conclusions.

No additional commentary, interpretation, or conclusions are provided here.

Legal Disclaimer

This conversation is published with the full knowledge and consent of Danielle Foster, one of the participants. The content is published in the public interest as it relates to a candidate seeking election to the East Troy Area School District School Board, a position of public trust with authority over public education policy and a budget serving over 1,500 students.

The publisher believes this material constitutes a matter of legitimate public concern under the First Amendment, as voters have a substantial interest in understanding the stated beliefs and positions of candidates seeking to govern public institutions. All content is presented accurately and without modification. The statements contained herein are the participants' own words from their original conversation.

This publication is made for informational purposes regarding a matter of public concern and is not intended to harass, defame, or cause harm to any individual.

February 27, 2023
D
Danielle Foster
10:56 am

Hi Paul, my name is Dani Foster and I am wondering if you would like to connect in person to discuss the upcoming East Troy referendum?

D
Danielle Foster
11:05 am

For reference, I am parent of two elementary school age children -- and the outcome of this referendum will have major implications either way on their educational future

D
Danielle Foster
11:06 am

I am interested in hearing your perspective

P
Paul Rains
11:42 pm

Hi Dani, I am happy to discuss the referendum. I would be curious to hear why you would support it and why you think it will have major implications on their future development. For your reference I have 4 young boys. My oldest is 6 and attends a Christian school.

Here are several reasons that I could expand on but will briefly state the point.

  1. My taxes are high enough.

  2. My kids are not and will never be a part of the public school system. I would be happy to give the money to the Christian school as teachers and staff there are paid a fraction of what public school teachers and staff make.

  3. I am opposed to government run schools. I don't think the government should over see education. This leads to what I believe is the major problem. Most teachers even in conservative East Troy got their education from major universities where they are taught all sorts of philosophies that are unbiblical and anti God. They come back to East Troy and bring their unbiblical thinking. The public schools teach as fact that we are descendants from monkeys and that this world is a result of a big bang. This evolutionary thinking produces young people who have no understanding of God and no understanding of the purpose of life. That then leads to seeking fulfillment in themselves. This inward self focus has produced a society that has rejected ultimate truth in favor of "my truth". This has lead to children thinking they can change genders and has lead to the whole sale rejection of absolute truth. Good is now evil and evil is now good. I believe the public school system is the biggest driver in the downward spiral of our society. Not to mention the horrible reading, and math levels of the average public school.

As a comparison, the Christian school my son goes to, the kindergarteners graduate being able to read fluently. My 6 year old can sit down and out load read chapters of the Bible with almost no help.

So those are a few reasons why I am opposed to this referendum.

I am curious to hear why you strongly support it.

Thanks for reaching out! I appreciate your time.

Paul

P
Paul Rains
11:46 pm

*led not lead

Used the wrong word a couple of times😂

February 28, 2023
D
Danielle Foster
9:09 am

Good Morning Paul,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
I was raised in the Christian church and it had a big influence on my choice to pursue a career in social work – where I can serve my community, and assist children and families to navigate our publicly funded and community-based services, to obtain the resources and support needed to live their best lives. This work necessitates a certain mindfulness in order to help others, who are very different than me, reach their goals. Often, this means setting aside my own dogmas and beliefs, to help individuals connect with services that supports that are right for them.
It is for these reasons that I support public schools. In the 2021-2022 school year, East Troy public schools served approximately 1,519 students. A significant number of families in our community have elected this option for their children for their own personal reasons – no one is forcing them to send their children here. Public School Open Enrollment, Parental School Choice, home schooling, and private school options currently allow families to exercise choice in where their child goes to school. And still, the families of the 1,519 students elected to send their children to East Troy public schools.
Whether or not one believes that government should be involved in schools, this is the system we have. While imperfect -- It is not going away anytime soon. At a local level, It is unlikely that the Department of Public Instruction would approve dissolution of the East Troy School District even if the community moved in this direction – it recently disallowed the Eagle Palmyra School District to do so (dpi.wi.gov/sfs/support/reorganization/history-orders).
Our community has an opportunity to positively impact the futures of over 1,519 students – by appropriately funding their education OR we can cut over $2 million dollars from the budget next year – and undoubtedly see the negative impact upon these students, and in our community. If you are unhappy with the current outcomes – what happens when we cut services even further? If we are required to pay into the public school system, I want it to be the best it can be. And I would like to see our dollars, our investment, stay in East Troy, versus them being funneled out our neighbor communities of Elkhorn, Mukwonago, Burlington, and Kettle Moraine.
So I ask you this Paul – as Christians, what should we do here? Should we demonstrate empathy and grace to the community? Should we be a good neighbor to individuals who might be disadvantaged, to those who practice different faiths, to those who practice no faith at all? Or should we advocate for the dismantling of a service which might be their only option or their preferred option, because it does not 100% align with our personal beliefs? Should we espouse judgement and hate speech publicly on social media towards those who might find value in services we elect not to use?
And in case you are wondering – my 2nd grader is reading at a 4th grade level.
Under his eye,
Dani

P
Paul Rains
11:35 am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dani, I respect them. I sacrifice a lot of money on top of my taxes to pay for my child's education. I don't think it is right for me to have to pay $400-500 more dollars a year to allow other peoples kids to have a better education. Think about that. I am choosing a different option for my kids schooling and still have to pay to support other people's kids going to a school I have strong disagreement with.

I have no issue paying taxes to support local government because I believe it has a role. But as far as education goes, I don't think I need to be basically paying the way for other kids. I think parents should have to bear the weight of their children's education. I would be fine if people who sent their kids to ET schools wanted to pay more but I am opposed to me being forced to have to pay substantially more.

If that increase went to a school I agreed with I wouldn't have any issue.

Doesn't this sound reasonable?

P
Paul Rains
11:38 am

As President of the Parent Teacher Organization, do you personally benefit in a financial way from this referendum passing?

P
Paul Rains
11:48 am

Also, please explain my "hate speech" voiced online. That's pretty strong terminology. Disagreement equals "hate speech"?

Christian love is to speak the truth when needed. Please tell me if anything I said was not the truth. Dani, you have to understand the spiritual battle for good in our day. The god of this world, the devil, is working hard to corrupt the minds of our children. This corruption is taking place especially in our public schools. I have a friend who recently graduated from Mukwonago high school. Almost every day he was bombarded with unbiblical teaching, ie we have evolved from apes, there are lots of genders, sex before marriage is fine and the list goes on and on. I think as Christians we should oppose this indoctrination that is taking place in our schools. That's the Christian thing to do. Is this "hate speech" to you to acknowledge this reality and voice it?

D
Danielle Foster
12:24 pm
  1. Family has elected private school options (Montessori) and I still supported public school referendums for schools my children did not attend.
D
Danielle Foster
12:27 pm
  1. The East Troy PTO is a separate legal entity from the district and a 100% volunteer position -- I have no financial gain from the position. I donate significant hours of my personal time to support our school community because I want to help our families to feel connected, our staff to feel supported, and community to be positively engaged.
D
Danielle Foster
12:29 pm
  1. Our public schools are secular, and do not teach biblical tenants -- by law.
D
Danielle Foster
12:30 pm
  1. Your public posts here are unkind, inflammatory, promote hersay, and transphobia
D
Danielle Foster
12:31 pm

Paul, you are clearly passionate and dedicated to your beliefs -- and you are entitled to those. I support your right to your beliefs.

D
Danielle Foster
12:34 pm

I just ask that you respect the beliefs of others and consider that not agreeing with the public school system does not have to equal actively advocating for its downfall. Despite what you say, it does an awful lot of good in our community. I've experienced it personally.

D
Danielle Foster
12:39 pm

I do not intend on corresponding any further here. I wish you and yours well in the future.

P
Paul Rains
1:21 pm

Please respect my views as well. They are not "hate speech", it's the truth. I care about the future of our country and one thing is certain, we cannot continue to have the country we have by turning from God. John Adams said, "the constitution is made for a religious and moral people, it can govern no other."

Please understand, though I speak plainly and passionately, I wish no ill will towards anyone. Sometimes the truth ruffles feathers and that's good. A society that avoids the truth will soon be a history lesson.

Thanks and I wish you will also!
Paul

P
Paul Rains
1:21 pm

*well

January 22, 2026
D
Danielle Foster
10:36 am

Hi Paul, saw your name on the ballot for the ETASD School Board and thought I would reach out. I am interested in understanding your motivations for running.