What happens in an elementary school when Halloween rolls around?

According to Southern Bluffs music teacher Jill Schams, there's a lot of planning around keeping kids focused — especially with a full moon, late-night Brewers games and trick-or-treating all happening in the same week.

Hopped up on candy, worried about their costumes, a lot of distractions but Schams says they find a way to keep kids focused. Sticking with Halloween, we also discussed how old is too old to trick-or-treat and what kind of things are families handing out this year — Ramen noodles? 

There was some school-related conversation, as well, including the debate over private-school vouchers and public education funding. Schams points out that La Crosse spends nearly $3 million in taxpayer money for private-school vouchers while the public school district faces a budget deficit of about the same amount.

She is also asked about student performance, declining enrollment and the value of music and arts education.

Also in the conversation:

• Halloween at school: Why some schools allow costumes and others don't, and how teachers plan around the distractions.

• The voucher debate: Why Schams believes taxpayer money should go to public schools — or that private schools receiving public funds should follow the same rules.

• School funding: The impact of rising costs and a lack of new state funding on staffing, class sizes and programs.

• The budget surplus: How extra state money could help school districts, including rural communities.

• Student performance: La Crosse's reading scores and graduation rate, and why Schams says test scores don't tell the whole story.