MERCER, Wis. -- Parents of some special needs students at Mercer K-12 School asked the school board Monday to keep teacher Dee Rice on staff.

Two mothers said their children had shown tremendous improvement in Rice's class. They said they were afraid their children would "fall through the cracks" if special needs staffing was cut.

Another mother said her daughter had improved from a C and D student to the honor roll with Rice's instruction.