A 48-minutes-long Independence Day parade was held on Lake Avenue in Phillips on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with great participation by area residents and businesses and a large crowd in attendance. My Price County tried to capture every float in the video. That evening, country artist, Adam Calvert, was on stage in Elk Lake Park, which was followed by an amazing approximately 30-minutes-long non-stop fireworks show by Palas Pyro LLC. (Show your support; follow the Palas Pyro page on Facebook.). Vehicles driving by stopped when they saw the fireworks and lined the highway. At the end of the show, the thousands of people in the park cheered and the cars on the highway honked with appreciation for a wonderful display of fireworks. People commented on Facebook that it was the best show they ever watched in Phillips. Our camera wasn't in "fireworks mode" at the end, so the sample we shared in the video was not as magnificent as it looked in person.
"After careful thought and consideration, Aspirus Health has made the decision to consolidate the operations of Aspirus Prentice Clinic and Aspirus Phillips Clinic at the end of July in a move designed to focus resources where they can have the greatest positive impact in meeting the evolving needs of our communities," Aspirus Health announced on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Patients currently being served in Prentice will be transitioned, with clinicians and staff, to the Phillips location. The Phillips location will then offer services five days per week and provide access to additional imaging services, which were not previously available in Prentice.
“We will work closely with patients to ensure a smooth transition as needed to support continuity of care,” said Mark Randell, vice president-primary care, Aspirus Medical Group. “Our care teams will be transiting to the Phillips Clinic, and it’s important to note that Aspirus Therapy-Prentice is not impacted by this decision and will continue operating at its current location.”
Aspirus Health noted that heath systems need to be foresightful and responsible stewards of their resources which can be challenging in today's environment.
“Our commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care remains unchanged,” said Randell. “Physician shortages are one of the most significant challenges facing rural health care, and we will continue to adapt to meet the evolving needs of our patients and communities.”
The Price County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing man at approximately 4:31 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. He was believed to be on Worcester Lake in the Town of Hackett.
Authorities from multiple agencies searched the lake. The man, a 67-year-old from Prentice, was located and pronounced deceased. The name of the man is being withheld at this time.
The Price County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Prentice Fire Department, Prentice EMS, Pike Lake Fire Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Price County Coroner’s Office, and neighboring citizens.
On the evening of Saturday, June 27, 2026, two Lac du Flambeau tribal members were found deceased.
A caller told the Vilas County Dispatch Center that two people were believed to be deceased at a residence.
The Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department, (LDFPD), responded to the residence. Officers were told a man was lying on the garage floor. He, Gilbert "Barney" Chapman, was clearly deceased. Officers were told a woman was in the living room. She, Natalie Poupart, had no pulse and was not breathing. Officers attempted CPR on Natalie but ultimately were not successful.
Additional LDFPD officers and investigators came to assist at the scene. Vilas County Sheriff Gerry Ritter and Vilas County investigators arrived to assess and process the scene, including locating and collecting evidence.
In an effort to determine the causes of death, autopsies will be performed.
The Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department stated they are "aware that rumors are circulating throughout the community, as bewildered and grief-stricken family members and friends struggle to process this tragic situation. While the causes of death are unknown at this point, there is no indication that either victim sustained any sort of physical injury, nor is there any indication that there is any threat to the community. The investigation into the deaths of Barney and Natalie is ongoing, and everything possible is being done to provide to the victims’ family members the answers that they need and deserve. We ask that everyone keep the family of Barney and Natalie in their thoughts and prayers at this sad time."
The Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department, Lac du Flambeau Tribal Victim Services Director, the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department, Vilas County Dispatch Center, Lac du Flambeau EMS, Oneida County Med 5, and the Vilas County Medical Examiner assisted.
New signage at the sheriff's office and courthouse
At the courthouse, the updates include painting the hallways, LED lighting, and new signage, including outdoor signs, plus interior hanging signs and room numbers. Some offices are receiving new paint as painting is completed every eight to ten years. The Register of Deeds office will have some construction taking place near the front desk.
In the future, the courthouse electrical panel, which feeds electricity to the entire courthouse, will need to be replaced. There was a failure in one of the buckets used in the main electrical panel. Due to its age, no more buckets are being made. The county purchased the only remaining part they could find. The switch panel will be purchased with capital improvement funding in the 2027 budget.
CITY OF PHILLIPS
Hanging flowerpots were installed downtown on Lake Avenue.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) installed hanging baskets on the light posts in Phillips in early June 2026. The DPW is watering the baskets with a rechargeable, long-reach watering device. The large pots that displayed flowers on the sidewalks will no longer fit on the sidewalks due to the new terrace and width of pavement decreasing. The pots have left the City of Phillips and are in other areas of the community. At least three of the large pots can be seen in Lugerville in the Town of Flambeau.
One of the large pots that used to be on the sidewalk in the City of Phillips is now by the town hall in the Town of Flambeau.
The clock pocket park was swept, and the flowerpots were planted, in early June by the Power of 3 Community Development Group. Birchland Realty waters the flowers throughout the summer.
The Prentice School District announced the honor roll and perfect attendance for the fourth quarter. My Price County is also publishing the third quarter honor roll and perfect attendance in this article, showcasing the achievements from 2026.
Prentice School District Honor Roll: 2025-2026 Third Quarter
Highest Honors (3.800-4.000)
Grade 5: Fallon Blomberg, Brayan Bogdan, Paisley Carlson, Blair Heikkinen, Omar Kladanjcic, Brian Parish, Emma Schwartz, Kendrick Wear
Grade 12: Jaxson Franz, Kayla Gillett, Blake Griebel, Clint Hale, Rhys Harris, Aidan Hause, Justin Hoffman, Jackson Isaacson, Travis Macholl, Grady May, Nicholas Nikkila, Jordan Przybylski, Taylor Slattery, Zachary Starkey
Prentice School District Honor Roll, 2025-2026 Fourth Quarter
Highest Honors (3.800-4.000)
Grade 5: Fallon Blomberg, Brayan Bogdan, Paisley Carlson, Blair Heikkinen, Omar Kladanjcic, Brian Parish, Emma Schwartz, Kendrick Wear
Grade 11: Tristan Dettmering, Cooper Fifield, Deverick Hartmann, Max Karutz, Chase Mabie, Gavin Polansky, Korbin Thums
Grade 12: Emma Davis, Jaxson Franz, Blake Griebel, Clint Hale, Aidan Hause, Justin Hoffman, Jackson Isaacson, Mia Lush, Grady May, Nicholas Nikkila, Jordan Przybylski, Taylor Slattery
Perfect Attendance, 2025-2026 Third Quarter
4K: None
Kindergarten: Lennon Blomberg, Tucker Nikkila, Ava Schwartz, Aylah Walcisak
At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, a single vehicle crash was reported via a 911 call. The crash occurred on State Highway 13, north of White Rock Road in the Township of Fifield.
A 42-year-old female was the only occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the crash site. The woman's name is not being released at this time.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Price County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Park Falls Police Department, Fifield First Responders, Fifield Fire Department, Park Falls Fire Department, Park Falls Ambulance Service, and the Price County Coroner’s Office.
Sheriff's offices in Ashland and Iron County published press releases regarding a man who was wanted in several counties for burglary. It was determined his name is Toby Mullins and that he is 50 years old and resides in Rib Lake in Taylor County.
Toby was wanted for questioning involving the breaking and entering of a cabin on Pine Lake. He was suspected in multiple burglaries in Ashland, Iron, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, and Winnebago Counties. It was believed he was targeting remote cabins in National Forest areas. He has prior convictions for such crimes, as well as crimes of resisting/obstructing and substantial battery.
On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at approximately 12:15 p.m., a deputy in Fond du Lac County was on patrol and observed a man riding a bicycle southbound on Lakeshore Drive in the Town of Friendship. The man matched the description of Toby, and the deputy realized that. He attempted to make contact with the suspect, but Toby fled southbound on his bicycle along Lakeshore Drive. He then abandoned his bicycle and continued on foot onto private property, where the deputy temporarily lost sight of the suspect.
According to the Fond du Lac Sheriff's Office, "Additional deputies, Wisconsin State Patrol troopers, and City of Fond du Lac police officers responded to the area and established a perimeter to assist in locating and apprehending the suspect. A sheriff's office sergeant and K-9 partner were deployed to conduct a track. With the assistance of an unmanned aerial system (drone) providing aerial overwatch and following an approximately 200-yard K-9 track through a dense marsh, law enforcement personnel located the suspect and took him into custody without further incident.
"The suspect was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for medical clearance and will subsequently be transported to the Fond du Lac County Jail."
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, City of Fond du Lac Police Department, Van Dyne 1st Responders, and North Fond du Lac Ambulance.
Note: Much of the last day of Shelly's life, and the weeks prior to and after her disappearance, was learned and speculatively pieced together from interviews conducted by My Price County and Wisconsin Watch and an affidavit from a 2008 search warrant obtained by Wisconsin Watch. Wisconsin Watch reached out to My Price County a number of years ago about this case, and we provided some information and assistance. Wisconsin Watch did investigative work to search for a possible suspect, which was shared with My Price County, while My Price County's goal has always been to assist in getting information to locate Shelly's remains for the sake of her family. We are all part of a small community, and My Price County takes that fact into consideration when publishing news. If the police issue a current press release with a current suspect's information, per our policy, we will publish that information, but we have not named a suspect directly in My Price County's article as the police have not issued a statement about any current suspects.
WHERE IS SHELLY HANSEN?
Marchelle "Shelly" Hansen likely woke up on the morning of Thursday, November 12, 1987, and readied herself for her doctor's appointment. The 23-year-old knew she was pregnant, confirmed by Dr. Dahlie six days prior, and she had an ultrasound scheduled later that day. Though she had financial concerns, she was excited for the birth of her baby, which she knew would be born sometime in July 1988. She had already told her mother, Joyce, about the pregnancy, hoping for the emotional support of her family.
Along with other likely tasks of the day, Shelly met with Dr. Dahlie for an obstetrical ultrasound at Flambeau Hospital at approximately 12:15 in the afternoon, according to information in an affidavit obtained by Wisconsin Watch. Five ultrasound photographs were taken.
At some point during the day, Shelly called her mother and allegedly told her the name of the baby's father. Shelly went to the laundromat, where she saw a woman named Kathy, according to a Wisconsin Watch interview. While doing laundry, she showed Kathy the ultrasound photos and stated she planned to "confront" the unnamed father later. Shelly seemed in a hurry and took her damp clothes with her, stating she would air dry them at her apartment. Perhaps on this same day, or just a few days prior, Alice Valiga, who My Price County interviewed, remembers seeing Shelly outside the "dime store" as Alice was leaving the bank. She said Shelly briefly spoke with her, stating she bought two bibs and something else for the baby. Also on this day, or just a few days prior, Shelly visited friends and family at Phillips Plating, and she spoke of her pregnancy. Without a doubt, Shelly was excited about this baby.
Just before 3 p.m., which is when Shelly's shift at Marquip started, a co-worker, Tina, remembers Shelly telling her she was pregnant and showing her an ultrasound image. When asked who the father was, Shelly would not say specifically but talked about not wanting to get him in trouble, because he was a married man with two small children. She also shared that he was a foreman at Marquip, which would narrow the potential father possibilities significantly. To add to that, her prior relationship was with a man named Gary, who she had alleged was harassing her and who did work at Marquip, but he was not a foreman, not married, and did not have any children at that time.
That same evening, another Marquip employee, Cindy, told Wisconsin Watch that she saw Shelly in an intense conversation with a foreman, who was pacing during the interaction.
While Shelly's normal shift was from 3 to 11 p.m., it was reported by police that she was seen leaving work at about 8 p.m. that evening. Somewhere between 10 and 11 p.m., she was seen at the Tasmanian Devil bar by a city police officer named Leonard Shilts. The Tasmanian Devil is a bar where some of the Marquip employees would drink beer and play darts after work, including Shelly and her foreman. While it is unknown why Leonard Shilts did not share this information with investigating officers in 1987, he did share it with authorities on August 27, 2003, 16 years later. Shilts stated that while "making rounds" that evening, he went into the bar, and Shelly told him that she would be going away from her residence for a time so she would like him to watch her apartment, which was Apartment 4 at Starlite Apartments. The officer stated he drove past the apartment complex at about 2 or 3 in the morning, and he observed the truck of a Marquip foreman at Shelly's apartment. He also saw a light-colored car near Shelly's apartment, which likely belonged to Shelly's neighbor. Shelly's red Dodge Omni was not noted as being seen in the parking lot.
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Shelly's neighbor, Barb, spoke to Investigator Christopher Jarosinski in 2005 and 2007. Barb stated that during the week prior to Shelly's disappearance, she heard things through the thin walls of the apartments. She was woken up by violent, intense arguments with a man's voice in loud, accusatory tones and a woman's voice in calming tones. She said she also heard the man and woman engaging in sexual relations. During these times, she stated a "spruced up" pickup truck was in the parking lot.
Shelly's red car was seen at Lake Ten Resort, parked at an unusual angle, on Friday, November 13, 1987, and reported to the police on Saturday, November 14, 1987. On Tuesday, November 17, Alice Valiga, Shelly's supervisor at the grocery store where she also worked, reported that Shelly did not come to the store for her shift.
What happened to Shelly after she left the Tasmanian Devil is unknown to most people, but it is possible that someone alive today knows something, which is exactly what Sheriff Brian Schmidt told WSAW News Channel 7 in a 2024 interview, stating, "Is there someone that knows something now that time has passed who wants to come forward and at least talk about this with us?”
In 2008, when a search warrant was obtained for a suspect, the affidavit states 1st degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit the same are felony offenses. While the community has felt this was a homicide case for years, that is the first known police document that asserts it is a homicide investigation. When the police talked with the suspect and collected his DNA, he mentioned that more than one person could have been involved in Shelly's disappearance, but he denied any involvement.
All those clues are left in the past; present times have no answers as to "Where is Shelly Hansen?" On August 24, 2026, Shelly would be turning 62 years old if life had not been denied to her by the hands of one or more people. Had her baby been born, that person would be almost 39 years old today. But, as fate would have it, that innocent child never was born. Likely a boy, given Shelly allegedly told her mother its first or middle name would be "Michael," he never got to grow up and see the world. Shelly never got to experience motherhood or the other joys of life. By now, she could be a grandmother. Instead, she will forever be a 23-year-old woman that met a tragic fate.
14,099 days have passed since Shelly went missing. While her family can find some peace that she is now in Heaven, they have had to live 14,099 days of Hell in regard to not knowing what happened to their loved one or where her remains reside.
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According to speculation by members of the community, some think Shelly's remains may be under poured concrete. One older lady allegedly reported seeing branches and leaves in the woods near the home of who she thought was a suspect and reported that to police. According to the Hansen family, many locations have been searched, such as lakes, sand pits, dumpsites, and many leads have been followed over the years. Shelly's brother, Ron, did admit, however that "just because they search something with a dog doesn't mean that they're going to get a hit on that day; maybe the dog might have a bad day or something, but you don't know that, you're not 100% sure that she's not gonna be there, but it all depends on the dog, if he has a good day or not." When asked if they felt certain locations needed to be searched again, Shelly's sister-in-law, Wendy, said she is all for getting Shelley found in whatever way it needs to happen but also felt the Price County Sheriff's Office was keeping them updated.
Due to public interest that was generated by John Brylski, a former police officer from Outagamie County who moved to Price County around 2019 and later became a private investigator, My Price County heard information from community members and first spoke with some members of the Hansen family in late 2023. Robert "Bob" Hansen, the oldest in the family of seven, said, "I remember the day they called and told me.....The first few months we kept thinking we were going to find her." He added that hope stretched on for a few years and his mother, Joyce, hoped to have answers, but, unfortunately, Joyce passed on in 2022. At her funeral, Bob shared that people said to him, "Now your mother finally knows where Shelly is, because she is probably in Heaven." Joyce is no longer on Earth to speak about her daughter, but, in a November 12, 1998, article by the Sheboygan Press, she shared, “I light candles at the church, and when people ask me what they can do, I tell them to remember Shelly in their prayers.”
Ron and Wendy stated they have an annual meeting with the Price County Sheriff's Office to update the family on any progress. Sometimes other agencies, such as state and federal agencies like the DOJ and FBI, are also in the meetings. Wendy said, "We don't care who finds Shelly; we just want her found." In a phone call with Wendy Hansen on June 19, 2026, she reiterated, "We want her found already. It's been forty years. And, again, I'll say, we don't care who finds her; we just want her found already. We want to be able to put her to rest and let the family rest. We've really gone through a lot with this over the years. It's time."
In addition to John Brylski, Richard "Dick" Kramer is another private investigator who looked into this case. During an interview with My Price County on November 14, 2023, Dick spoke of a reward, the sheriff's office and other agencies, two families that may have or may not have asked him to look into the case, among other things. He ended the conversation by stating, "I will tell you one thing, and this is honestly, there is not a day that goes by that I do not think about her. I don't know if you've ever been part of a homicide, a family that has gone through a homicide, but it's something that never ends until it's solved." Months after that interview, in 2024, Dick Kramer passed on.
On December 7, 2023, Chief Deputy Robert "Bob" Hawn told My Price County there have been open records requests that have been denied by the Price County District Attorney, because it is an active investigation. "If those records got out," he said, "it could seriously jeopardize that investigation." When asked how much time is spent on the case annually, he answered, "We don't keep track of the number of hours that we spend on a case, so I couldn't tell you that this year we spent 86 hours on the case; I don't, I wouldn't be able to answer that. What I can tell you is that they are actively working on it." He added, "We have identified some areas where we can follow up on the case; we've identified additional evidence that we would like to have tested, especially with the advances in technology and things like that. You know, there may have been evidence that was tested in the past that, you know, we could have tested again and maybe, who knows, maybe, maybe we'll get some positive results....We're not going to stop working on it until, you know, two things happen, one, we find Shelly and two, we find out, we determine what happened to Shelly."
When My Price County told Chief Deputy Hawn that two private investigators said they gave information to the Price County Sheriff's Office and felt it wasn't followed up on, he said, "These two, uh, individuals who, I guess you could say are looking into the matter, are in no way, shape, or form involved in the Price County Sheriff's Office investigations, so their ability to say that we're not following up on their information is, I think, their own belief and opinion. Um, you know, they do not have access to our case files, so therefore, they have no idea what it is that we've done, and they have no idea what it is that we're doing." He said they look into information that anyone gives them on any case.
Chief Deputy Hawn said factual information from the public is just one more piece to the puzzle. "If they have any information that they believe could help us in locating Shelly, they need to contact us. We are always open to information from the public." When asked if there is DNA they can follow up on now that technology is better, he said, "What I will say is that we are currently working on it."
Since that December 2023 interview, My Price County sent Sheriff Schmidt a few requests for non-confidential, factual information that could be reported about the case to keep public interest and hopefully generate leads. However, Sheriff Schmidt never replied nor shared that there was an unsealed affidavit of case information available, which was discovered by Wisconsin Watch. On June 18, 2026, My Price County reached out to Chief Deputy Hawn and Sheriff Schmidt with a similar request and additional questions. Chief Deputy Hawn replied to all our questions and included a statement that Sheriff Schmidt sent to Wisconsin Watch, which read, "The disappearance of Marchelle Hanson is an active, open, and pending investigation with this office. No detailed information about the case has been or will be released from the Sheriff’s Office per our policy and court case 24-CV-91." The cited case is the Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed by John Brylski asking to release the records of the Shelly Hansen case, which was denied by the court. In regard to the unsealed affidavit, Chief Deputy Hawn stated, "I can only assume the information this news agency uncovered would be a record not maintained by the Price County Sheriff’s Office."
Chief Deputy Hawn also responded when My Price County asked if a reward was or could be put in place for significant leads or if anyone with information would be given immunity. He said, "Unfortunately, Price County does not have a reward program such as Crime Stoppers in place. I’m glad you mentioned this, though, as I can see the usefulness of a non-taxpayer-funded, community-based, non-profit organization such as Crime Stoppers USA in cases like this one. This is something I will have to explore in the future. Additionally, law enforcement does not and should never possess the authority to grant immunity to anyone. Immunity is an issue the District Attorney’s Office would have to explore and pursue." When asked if someone had credible information that Shelly may be buried on their property, would their land be restored after the search effort, he stated, "The Sheriff’s Office does generally fund the costs associated to an investigation. Therefore, if credible information, which has been corroborated, is obtained and the determination is made that a search of a particular location is warranted, the Sheriff’s Office will more than likely incur the costs sustained if land is disturbed and restoration of said land is necessary."
Since Chief Deputy Hawn is aware that My Price County's goal in researching this case has always been to find the remains of Shelly Hansen for the benefit of her family, he shared, "I believe we share a common goal, which has been the goal of this office since 2009 and that goal is to locate Ms. Hansen and to bring to justice anyone who may have been involved or is responsible for her disappearance."
If you have information that could lead to finding Shelly's remains or any other information helpful to this case, you are encouraged to do the right thing and contact the Price County Sheriff's Office at 715-339-3011. Shelly's family deserves the answers they so desperately have sought for 14,099 days and counting.
Much of the research and writing of articles on My Price County is done with volunteer hours. The content is free to readers. If you appreciate My Price County's content and want to support its efforts, you may monetarily contribute at this link, by sending a check to My Price County, P.O. Box 284, Phillips, WI 54555, or by contacting My Price County for other means of payment. Any contributions are appreciated. If you own a business, please contact us about advertising opportunities. Also, we are considering subcontracting another individual to sell ads. If you would like more information, please contact us.
Shop the Palas Pyro fireworks tent on the corner of Hwy. 8 and County Road A in Prentice, Wisconsin, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day through July 6. A portion of the proceeds supports the Phillips' Independence Day fireworks show, which will be four times as huge this year. Plus, if you mention to the salesperson that you saw this on My Price County, you will receive 10% off your fireworks purchase at the tent. Follow the Palas Pyro Facebook page at this link.
A complaint was filed on February 5, 2026, with the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) against the School District of Phillips. According to the OCR, it was alleged that "Student A attended the district throughout the 2025-2026 school year. According to the complainant, Student A has a disability that impacts his ability to organize schoolwork and stay on task, especially when he is over-stimulated or overwhelmed. He received special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that, according to the complainant, changed twice between spring 2025 and spring 2026. The complainant alleged that the following portions of Student A’s IEP were not implemented during the 2025-2026 school year: (1) morning and evening check-ins with a case manager; (2) monthly occupational therapy consults; and (3) specially designed instruction in executive functioning skills for 15 minutes, 4 times per week.
"The complainant alleged that Student A was excluded from a February 5, 2026, school-wide field trip to [redacted content] on the basis of his disability. According to the complainant, the special education case manager told Student A he could not attend because of his grades. The complainant alleged Student A’s academic performance is impacted by his disability, and his grades were low due to the district’s failure to fully implement his IEP."
Since the school district receives federal financial assistance and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability, the district must follow the laws.
Superintendent Rachel Hoffman responded on April 17, 2024. According to the OCR, she explained that "the case manager informally checks in with Student A when he arrives to school and formally checks in with him before the start of his first academic course of the day, a course the case manager co-teaches. At the end of the day, the case manager meets with Student A for a formal check-out when he returns items to a cubby in her classroom. The same case manager provided Student A with instruction in executive functioning skills for approximately 30 minutes a day, four days per week." Student A allegedly also received consultation-only occupational therapy rather than direct services. The response omits a description of the services received and any recommendations by the therapist or implementation practices.
On April 24, 2026, Superintendent Hoffman met with the OCR to further discuss the matter. More details can be found in the following document:
School District of Phillips Resolution Letter.pdf (Size: 200.83 KB / Downloads: 174)
Before the investigation was complete, the school district let the OCR know it wanted to resolve the complaint. The OCR allowed this to happen through the Rapid Resolution Process (RRP). A resolution agreement was signed by the school district on May 13, 2026. The district was required to have its first monitoring report by May 28, 2026. By September 14, 2026, the district must provide training to all relevant staff, which will address the prohibition of discrimination against students with disabilities. By September 18, 2026, and October 9, 2026, the district must meet reporting requirements. By January 1, 2027, the school district will be required to provide the OCR with documents to verify it provided all compensatory education and/or services in the written plan. The full resolution agreement can be read in the following document:
School District of Phillips Resolution Agreement.pdf (Size: 157.06 KB / Downloads: 117)
Americans for Autism Advocacy (AFAA) shared their thoughts in a press release, stating, "“According to federal law, students eligible for special education services are entitled to a comprehensive education provided within the least restrictive setting. It is a disgrace to all Wisconsinites that a school district within the Northwoods failed to prioritize the welfare of a student with significant learning disabilities. For its swift action taken regarding the Phillips School District, Americans for Autism Advocacy applauds the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education. Jill Underly, the Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, holds a fiduciary responsibility to guarantee that every school district across the state fully complies with the IDEA Act. If Ms. Underly cannot fulfill her duty, then the Wisconsin Legislature must use their oversight duty in the 2027 session to hold her accountable."
Much of the research and writing of articles on My Price County is done with volunteer hours. The content is free to readers. If you appreciate My Price County's content and want to support its efforts, you may monetarily contribute at this link, by sending a check to My Price County, P.O. Box 284, Phillips, WI 54555, or by contacting My Price County for other means of payment. Any contributions are appreciated. If you own a business, please contact us about advertising opportunities. Also, we are considering subcontracting another individual to sell ads. If you would like more information, please contact us.
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