After visiting schools across the district and meeting with school administrators at a recent Legislative Forum, the message is clear: We have to re-evaluate how we fund public schools.
The 2007-2008 Legislative session recently adjourned, and we didn't see any substantial shifts in policy or funding distribution. That being said, it's no big surprise that school districts still are being forced to go to their communities with referenda, students across the state still aren't receiving the resources they need, and residents are overburdened with rising property taxes.
Last week, Rep. Phil Garthwaite, D-Dickeyville, and I hosted a Legislative Forum with school administrators from our districts. It was a great opportunity to communicate our concerns, emphasize what principles are driving us forward, discuss reform proposals, and gather feedback from local officials who deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis.
We accomplished many things during our discussions. For one, Rep. Garthwaite and I laid out the following Statement of Principles and Goals that will guide us as we move ahead with reform initiatives:
• Provide every child in Wisconsin with an excellent educational opportunity.
• Establish a more equitable distribution of funding - one that takes into account the disproportionately higher costs of special education, low-income, transportation, enrollment, and English-language needs.
• Reduce the reliance on homeowner property taxes (in 1970, Wisconsin homeowners paid approximately 50 percent of all property taxes collected, while in 2003 we paid almost 70 percent).
• Restore more control to local elected officials and school boards.
• Ensure that the proposal is politically feasible and affordable.
With these principles and goals before us, we can examine possibilities and build proposals that put these theories into practice.
At the same time, we all agreed that it is going to take a major cooperative effort - one that includes parents, teachers, administrators, public officials, businesses and advocacy groups - to bring these ideas to the life. We need to examine what it takes to provide a child with an excellent education, what are the costs, and how do we fund them. This doesn't sound radical, but in a way it represents a significant departure from how we have traditionally discussed and legislated school funding.
As I continue to visit schools and meet with administrators, I look forward to continuing these discussions and exploring new ideas with constituents. If you have any feedback in regard to this issue, please contact my office at (888) 534-0051 or Rep.Hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov.Jeff Rogers 4/21/08
- Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, represents almost all of Iowa and Lafayette counties, the southern portion of Sauk County and the southeast corner of Richland County in the Wisconsin Assembly. He can be reached by calling toll free (888) 534-0051 or e-mail rep.hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov or regular mail PO BOX 8952, Madison, WI, 53708.
The 2007-2008 Legislative session recently adjourned, and we didn't see any substantial shifts in policy or funding distribution. That being said, it's no big surprise that school districts still are being forced to go to their communities with referenda, students across the state still aren't receiving the resources they need, and residents are overburdened with rising property taxes.
Last week, Rep. Phil Garthwaite, D-Dickeyville, and I hosted a Legislative Forum with school administrators from our districts. It was a great opportunity to communicate our concerns, emphasize what principles are driving us forward, discuss reform proposals, and gather feedback from local officials who deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis.
We accomplished many things during our discussions. For one, Rep. Garthwaite and I laid out the following Statement of Principles and Goals that will guide us as we move ahead with reform initiatives:
• Provide every child in Wisconsin with an excellent educational opportunity.
• Establish a more equitable distribution of funding - one that takes into account the disproportionately higher costs of special education, low-income, transportation, enrollment, and English-language needs.
• Reduce the reliance on homeowner property taxes (in 1970, Wisconsin homeowners paid approximately 50 percent of all property taxes collected, while in 2003 we paid almost 70 percent).
• Restore more control to local elected officials and school boards.
• Ensure that the proposal is politically feasible and affordable.
With these principles and goals before us, we can examine possibilities and build proposals that put these theories into practice.
At the same time, we all agreed that it is going to take a major cooperative effort - one that includes parents, teachers, administrators, public officials, businesses and advocacy groups - to bring these ideas to the life. We need to examine what it takes to provide a child with an excellent education, what are the costs, and how do we fund them. This doesn't sound radical, but in a way it represents a significant departure from how we have traditionally discussed and legislated school funding.
As I continue to visit schools and meet with administrators, I look forward to continuing these discussions and exploring new ideas with constituents. If you have any feedback in regard to this issue, please contact my office at (888) 534-0051 or Rep.Hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov.Jeff Rogers 4/21/08
- Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, represents almost all of Iowa and Lafayette counties, the southern portion of Sauk County and the southeast corner of Richland County in the Wisconsin Assembly. He can be reached by calling toll free (888) 534-0051 or e-mail rep.hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov or regular mail PO BOX 8952, Madison, WI, 53708.
