Thursday, August 15th, 2013 @ 12:50AM

EDUCATION

I support State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers “Fair Funding for our Future” plan that was introduced last year. This plan guarantees a minimum amount of state funding for every student, takes districts’ poverty levels into account, establishes predictable growth in state aids (using the CPI or a minimum of 2% annual growth), maintains previous levels of annual growth in revenue limits of $200+ per pupil, and softens the impact of declining enrollment on a district’s aid. We need to reinvest in our public schools, by raising more revenue, allocating more dollars, and fixing our broken state aid formula to create a more fair distribution of funds. We need a funding system that is sustainable and that means passing Superintendent Evers’ plan.

The legislature did pass a law intended to increase accountability of teachers and administrators for student performance but failed to support this effort with adequate funding. Wisconsin needs to remain committed to providing high quality public education for all children. We’ve lost ground in funding and thus in staffing levels over the past decade at a greater pace than declines in enrollment, during a time of increased poverty and student needs statewide. It is time for some honest budgeting in Madison. I support initiating the open discussion of funding via new revenue sources dedicated to public education including initiatives like a “Penny for Kids.” This plan would raise the state sales tax, now the lowest among neighboring states, by a penny, and the estimated $870 million generated annually would be designated as additional state aid for public schools. It will help restore what was cut in the current state budget and provide additional funding in succeeding years. To accomplish our public education goals we need to restore revenue limits, reinvest state funds, and rehire lost staff in public schools in Wisconsin.

Technical colleges also had their state funding reduced significantly in the current state budget. We need to restore support for these schools that train young people for jobs now available. Additionally, I believe that high school training programs in partnership with both the construction trades and tech schools need to be encouraged. Economic development in the state is tied to maintaining high quality K-12 public schools and post secondary educational opportunities. Unless job growth is going to consist mostly of minimum wage jobs, it requires a skilled white collar and blue collar workforce. Businesses are attracted to states with a high quality of life, which includes quality public schools.

Posted by admin
Categories: Education