The Governor’s budget proposal, while increasing state spending by 1.7 percent over the next two years, cuts $840 million in state school aids over the biennium. The 2011-13 biennial budget proposes the largest cut to public education in Wisconsin history. While the cuts in state aid present huge challenges, an even greater concern is the proposed 5.5 percent reduction to school district revenue limits. These limits dictate how much money schools have available to maintain quality programs and opportunities for students. In Sun Prairie we estimate a loss of state aid and local support under revenue limits to be between $4 Million and $5 Million.
We have heard it alleged that districts have the “tools” to make up for these cuts and that classrooms "shouldn’t be impacted". However, savings related to Wisconsin Retirement System pension contributions and health insurance contributions do not cover the reductions necessary under the proposed budget. Our employees voluntarily agreed to significant cuts in benefits for next year and into the future. Our acceptance of paying 50% of the required Wisconsin Retirement System contribution and 10% of health insurance premiums will reduce district expenses by about $3.3 million. This will help the looming budget cuts being proposed, but as you clearly see, these “tools” do not equal the Governor’s proposed cuts. We are still short about $1 Million even with these concessions.
What “saves” our district in the face of this proposed budget disaster is that 29 teachers submitted letters of retirement, saving the district almost $1 million. While this savings is beneficial given the state cuts, these retirements are bittersweet. We will be losing some amazing teachers for whom I have the greatest respect for the service they have provided our community's children. We are losing almost a thousand years of experience among our teaching ranks and there is no dollar amount that can be placed on that.
So, the budget is almost balanced by lower employee benefits, reductions in take home pay plus the unanticipated loss of expertise. But another loss is that we have to give up proposed new programming for students who do not speak English, Response to Intervention programs, and other initiatives. These initiatives had been identified as critical for our school district to continue to progress in meeting the needs of all students. Fortunately we are not laying off staff this year, but we will have to delay, and in some cases, lose opportunities to better at serve our many children.
Everyone understands that resources are scarce. Every single Sun Prairie employee has demonstrated that they are willing to do their part and will receive 8-10% less in salary next school year. I am extremely appreciative that all district employees have agreed to take home significantly less pay next year while continuing to do their same challenging, excellent work. While the times demand shared sacrifice, we need a budget that is fair and does not permanently damage education. I wish to echo here statements of the State Superintendent for Public Instruction in his comments to the Joint Finance Committee:
• "Where is the shared sacrifice when this budget increases Transportation funding by an historic 250 percent, and proposes to siphon off $2 billion in sales tax revenue to the transportation fund over the next 10 years?
• Where is the shared sacrifice when this budget increases funding to voucher schools and independent charter schools by $40 million?
• Where is the shared sacrifice when the budget removes the income cap on the choice program, subsidizing wealthy parents who send their children to private schools?"
2. Proposed Cuts in Categorical Budgets
The proposed budget recommends the following that will hurt Sun Prairie’s Schools:
- No change in special education aid in 2011-12 or 2012-13 compared to aid provided in 2010-11;
- No change in SAGE aid in 2011-12 or 2012-13 compared to aid provided in 2010-11;
- Elimination of funding for Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse (ATODA) prevention programs.
I am also concerned about the future of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program. Current law provides a grant of $2,250 for every low-income child in a SAGE classroom; however, growing levels of poverty across the state and greater participation in SAGE has reduced the per student allocation since 2008. The reimbursement for the 2010-2011 school year is slightly below $2,000. Yet the Governor’s budget proposes no increase for the SAGE program. With poverty growing statewide, it is likely that school districts in the SAGE program, such as us, will again see reimbursement of less than $2,000 per low-income child. Class size reduction in the primary grades for low-income students has been proven by research as an effective intervention. We believe SAGE has had remarkable results in the two schools that have it in Sun Prairie: Westside Elementary and Bird Elementary. It would be tragic if we could no longer afford to maintain this excellent program in Sun Prairie because of this lack of support coupled with other cuts in funding.
Drug and alcohol abuse greatly hinder the ability to learn. We have too many children and families struggling with this challenge. Under the Governor's proposed cuts, we will lose our ATODA counselor serving SPHS and Prairie Phoenix Academy. This is tragic as it is so difficult to get these types of services in the community, especially without health insurance. In addition, it appears that cuts to Dane County will make it even less likely to find assistance. The loss of these services will hurt many students and families and will likely cause an increase in the drop out rate if students with these problems cannot be treated and supported.
3. Proposed Changes in Chartering of Public Schools
I support charter schools when authorized by school boards and funding arrangements are determined between a school board and charter school (not the state government). I also believe charter schools should be required to maintain health and safety standards for pupils and staff, operate as nonsectarian entities, be accountable under the same terms as all public schools, and be open to all district students without charge for tuition regardless of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
However, I oppose proposals allowing entities other than school boards to authorize charter schools. Now is not the time to divert public dollars away from school districts to other businesses, organizations and individuals operating outside local democratic processes. Aid to independent charter schools is funded by reductions in general school aid to school districts; already being cut statewide by $843 million in the proposed budget. In addition, I am concerned about proposals that charter schools to be created and run by individuals or businesses not held accountable to the taxpayers of our community.
If the state believes in the goal of creating more public schools exempt from the laws and rules governing public schools (Chapters 115-121, Wis. Stats.)to improve student achievement, then the legislature should take a closer look at the mandates and restrictions those statutes and rules impose on all public schools.
4. Proposed Expansion of Vouchers
I am opposed to the use of public tax dollars to subsidize non-public schools through so-called voucher systems. With the state facing a budget crisis and cutting support for public schools by 8%, why expand the voucher programs adding costs to the program by lifting income eligibility caps on voucher school students? This is in essence a reduction in cost to wealthier citizens at the expense of all taxpayers and public school children. In these tight times, it is particularly offensive.
While the proposed budget cuts $74 million in aid and more than $555 per pupil in revenue limit authority from the Milwaukee Public Schools, it suggests providing an additional $30 million in state revenues to Milwaukee private schools accepting voucher students. It is unfair that voucher schools are protected from cuts despite recent proof that the overall results aren’t any better than those of Milwaukee Public Schools.
While the proposed budget cuts $74 million in aid and more than $555 per pupil in revenue limit authority from the Milwaukee Public Schools, it suggests providing an additional $30 million in state revenues to Milwaukee private schools accepting voucher students. It is unfair that voucher schools are protected from cuts despite recent proof that the overall results aren’t any better than those of Milwaukee Public Schools.
5. Florida “Reforms” without Resources is a Recipe for Frustration and/or Failure
It appears Governor Walker has bought into former Florida Governor Bush’s 'Florida Formula for Student Achievement' being exported nationwide via 2 private foundations. The Florida formula has been touted as improving education in Florida - as long as you put all your stock in standardized test (NAEP) scores equaling success. It is a nicely packaged, simple to understand plan, that seems based on ideology as much as research. The Florida formula elements sound familiar to what we are now hearing: “Give every public school a grade from A to F. Offer students vouchers to help pay for private school. Don’t let students move to fourth grade unless they know how to read. Merit pay. Alternative routes to teacher certification.”
We seem to be on the verge of the “Florida-ization” of public education in Wisconsin. However, there are some significant missing pieces in the current proposals: Resources. Here are parts of the Florida story we are not hearing about:
- Establishment of the Florida Center for Reading Research, (FCRR) a state technical assistance agency solely focused on providing reading assistance -- complete with reading coaches -- in elementary schools so that kids could read by the time they graduate third grade.
- The effects of a statewide class-size reduction referendum approved by voters.
- Per-pupil education expenditures in Florida rose 19 percent under Governor Bush’s reforms. That allowed schools to hire hundreds of reading coaches, according to Sherman Dorn, a professor at the University of South Florida.
But even so, (and I must say some ideas in the Florida formula may be worthy of consideration), it seems less than wise to launch this new Florida formula while at the same time historically cutting education resources. The seemingly un-thought-out implications of following a doctrinaire Florida approach without providing adequate resources, in fact drastically reducing them, is frightening.
These are my 5 greatest concerns with legislation and the proposed budget now under consideration. So much seems to be happening so fast with seemingly little thought being given to future implications, for reasons that don’t entirely make sense to those of us out here in the school districts doing the work of educating children. It would be so much better if school districts and the state could collaborate on a common vision of what we might do for our children.
You may agree or disagree with my opinons on these five issues. However, please know that no matter what the state does to us, as always we will maintain our commitment to doing our best every day for the children.
What are your opinions? Please share them with me at tculver@spasd.k12.wi.us
Thanks for listening,
Tim Culver
