MONROE - A proposal to increase funding for the school milk program failed to make traction with the state Senate, causing it to be cut Monday from Wisconsin's proposed education budget, said Rep. Todd Novak.
"I'm not very happy," Novak said. "I fought long and hard for it, and then the budget stalemate happened, but, um, unfortunately this is what happens during the budget process."
Novak, R-Dodgeville, made the original request after Ron Olson, Monroe school district's business manager, told him about the state's failure to properly fund the program.
The Wisconsin School Day Milk Program requires participating schools to provide young children from low-income families with free milk during a daily snack break on school days. The state, in theory, reimburses schools for the milk - but as costs have risen over the years, the state's reimbursements have stagnated, leaving districts to absorb the extra costs or drop out of the program.
Over the past five years, Monroe school district has had to absorb almost $11,000 per year in costs above the reimbursements, Olson said, forcing them to consider whether the district could afford to continue it.
Novak asked the Joint Finance Committee to fully fund the milk program over the next two years, an increase of about $1.45 million.
"I had really high hopes. I really was disappointed, because on Friday ... I was thinking I was gonna get it, but the Senate just wouldn't budge," he said, noting the Assembly supported his request.
The budget committee approved Monday a $639 million increase in school funding over two years, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
"We were disappointed it didn't go," Olson said. "We appreciate Rep. Novak and his hard efforts to get that included in the budget."
Monroe's "hard decisions" about the milk program have been delayed, though, thanks to the recent launch of Monroe's summer breakfast and lunch programs, which currently have enough federal support to keep the overall food service program in the black, even while taking a loss on the milk, Olson said.
He added in an email that making the program more sustainable "was important not only for our schools and students, but also to other districts and to the farmers and dairy industry of our state."
On the bright side, Novak said, legislators are now aware of the issue.
"It's gonna be a top priority of mine next session," he said.
"I'm not very happy," Novak said. "I fought long and hard for it, and then the budget stalemate happened, but, um, unfortunately this is what happens during the budget process."
Novak, R-Dodgeville, made the original request after Ron Olson, Monroe school district's business manager, told him about the state's failure to properly fund the program.
The Wisconsin School Day Milk Program requires participating schools to provide young children from low-income families with free milk during a daily snack break on school days. The state, in theory, reimburses schools for the milk - but as costs have risen over the years, the state's reimbursements have stagnated, leaving districts to absorb the extra costs or drop out of the program.
Over the past five years, Monroe school district has had to absorb almost $11,000 per year in costs above the reimbursements, Olson said, forcing them to consider whether the district could afford to continue it.
Novak asked the Joint Finance Committee to fully fund the milk program over the next two years, an increase of about $1.45 million.
"I had really high hopes. I really was disappointed, because on Friday ... I was thinking I was gonna get it, but the Senate just wouldn't budge," he said, noting the Assembly supported his request.
The budget committee approved Monday a $639 million increase in school funding over two years, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
"We were disappointed it didn't go," Olson said. "We appreciate Rep. Novak and his hard efforts to get that included in the budget."
Monroe's "hard decisions" about the milk program have been delayed, though, thanks to the recent launch of Monroe's summer breakfast and lunch programs, which currently have enough federal support to keep the overall food service program in the black, even while taking a loss on the milk, Olson said.
He added in an email that making the program more sustainable "was important not only for our schools and students, but also to other districts and to the farmers and dairy industry of our state."
On the bright side, Novak said, legislators are now aware of the issue.
"It's gonna be a top priority of mine next session," he said.