WI Department of Public Instruction page
State
Superintendent
Tony Evers
Superintendent
Tony Evers
Citizen input important to the 2015-17 education budget process
By State Superintendent Tony Evers
My goal for judging education policy and reform efforts is always: “Is it good for kids.” In looking at the
governor’s proposed 2015-17 budget for education, on balance it will not help our children’s
education. It will in fact leave a legacy of less for Wisconsin students.
So what does an educator, parent, or grandparent do? Now is the time to talk among families and
friends, within schools and communities. Study the impact of the governor’s proposed education
budget. What does it mean to have per pupil revenue limits frozen for the biennium, to have no
additional supports for students with significant needs to help them overcome a disability or
language barrier, to have less money to spend for our local schools? The heating and electric bills
will not go down; the cost of running buses to transport kids is at the mercy of fuel prices. We
absolutely must have teachers and textbooks. So school administrators and school boards will
again be asked to do more with less. Will they eliminate the few remaining field trips; scale back the
science labs, music programs, or hands-on learning opportunities that help kids thrive; or will it be
another whack at educator pay and benefits. The cuts are coming, and it’s important to know how
your community’s public schools will cope.
As we learn more of what this budget proposal means, it’s also important to tell your elected officials.
Whether through a letter or e-mail, a phone call or testimony at upcoming budget hearings,
legislators need to know what their electorate thinks. Evidence of how this budget proposal will
negatively impact students in each legislator’s district matters. Legislators can reshape the 2015-17
budget. They can transform it from a “legacy of less” to a spending plan that supports our kids and
their future.
By State Superintendent Tony Evers
My goal for judging education policy and reform efforts is always: “Is it good for kids.” In looking at the
governor’s proposed 2015-17 budget for education, on balance it will not help our children’s
education. It will in fact leave a legacy of less for Wisconsin students.
So what does an educator, parent, or grandparent do? Now is the time to talk among families and
friends, within schools and communities. Study the impact of the governor’s proposed education
budget. What does it mean to have per pupil revenue limits frozen for the biennium, to have no
additional supports for students with significant needs to help them overcome a disability or
language barrier, to have less money to spend for our local schools? The heating and electric bills
will not go down; the cost of running buses to transport kids is at the mercy of fuel prices. We
absolutely must have teachers and textbooks. So school administrators and school boards will
again be asked to do more with less. Will they eliminate the few remaining field trips; scale back the
science labs, music programs, or hands-on learning opportunities that help kids thrive; or will it be
another whack at educator pay and benefits. The cuts are coming, and it’s important to know how
your community’s public schools will cope.
As we learn more of what this budget proposal means, it’s also important to tell your elected officials.
Whether through a letter or e-mail, a phone call or testimony at upcoming budget hearings,
legislators need to know what their electorate thinks. Evidence of how this budget proposal will
negatively impact students in each legislator’s district matters. Legislators can reshape the 2015-17
budget. They can transform it from a “legacy of less” to a spending plan that supports our kids and
their future.