ALTOONA, Wisc. (WEAU) -- From financial concerns to worrying about education taking a back seat to politics, the topics were varied at Monday morning’s meeting in Chippewa Falls between local superintendents and republican legislators Terry Moulton and Tom Larson.

In Altoona the district is just a few months away from a referendum. Superintendent Greg Fahrman says his main concern at Monday’s meeting was talking about the importance of compromising, and its place in politics.

After spending a lifetime in education Fahrman says he's worried about the lack of compromise around the state and the nation.

“Having taught history for a number of years I know that compromise is key to democracy and if you don't have the compromising occurring and that takes listening, you don’t really make any gains,” he says.

But in a phone interview Monday afternoon Terry Moulton says he is willing to compromise.

“I’m always willing to compromise if it helps make the legislation better or even possible. I think you'll find most bills that are passed have bipartisan support,” Moulton says.

Chippewa Falls Superintendent Tom Hughes says it's the high emotions and inability to compromise across the state that makes their regular meetings with legislators all the more important.

“That reality speaks only more loudly to the need for what we are doing this morning and that's having an open dialogue and conversation,” Hughes tells us.

Open dialogue without ridicule is something Moulton says is hard to come by in Madison, and he'd like to see changes in how his fellow legislators are acting.

“I think we need a little more civility when we're debating things on the floor and I try and work towards that. I see a lot of that happening and I’m sure everybody would like to see it go away,” Moulton says.

For Fahrman who is just five months away from retirement, pushing for a return to getting educator input on educational reforms and laws was another big issue Monday.

“We shouldn't have to read about some new educational idea coming from some committee that we haven't heard of before. Right now there is a confidence level that anybody can make decisions about education regardless of your background,” Fahrman says.

Moulton also told us education is the number one priority for the legislature, he says the largest portion of funds is still being directed towards education.