Wisconsin devotes nearly 50 percent of all state general tax dollars to the purpose of educating students. A top goal for me is to ensure the public schools of our region receive their fair share of that state aid. As state and local budgets tighten and competition for resources intensifies, our mutual goal will be to protect education funding so our youth are prepared for success and we continue to attract top-notch educators.
A group I helped form in 2006 reviewed our current funding system and recommended fixes to help our schools. That nonpartisan committee had broad representation, including school administrators, board members, UW researchers and legislators. Gary Andrews and Nancy Hendrickson from our region graciously provided strong voices for the interests of small, rural districts.
It was gratifying when some concepts advanced by the committee became provisions in the state budget, including easing state aid losses when student enrollment declines. Committee members showed that a focus on solutions without divisive bickering can produce real-world, helpful ideas.
I hope that same spirit of compromise carries over to next session. It's encouraging to see renewed interest at the Capitol to tackle school funding reform in 2009. Governor Jim Doyle in his State of the State address early this year signaled his willingness to participate in school funding talks. I appreciate his willingness to lead and look forward to joining him to improve how our schools are funded.
One of our goals should be to maximize direct aid to school districts. Our last state budget failed that principle by shifting funding to the school levy credit. The name is misleading because school levy credits actually are payments to municipalities to offset municipal tax levies, and schools never see the money. The shifting of millions of aid dollars to the levy credit meant less in general school aids that go where needs are greatest - small, rural and poor school districts such as many of the districts in our region.
Another of our goals should be to hold our federal legislators accountable to do more to help us keep our schools strong. As a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article stated, Wisconsin ranks 49th of 50 states and District of Columbia for education funding received from the federal government. We rank 15th in our state and local funding commitment.
I welcome your thoughts on how we can enhance school funding. Please be in touch by e-mailing Sen.Schultz@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, serves a large region of southwest Wisconsin, including Lafayette County. His Web site is
senatordaleschultz.com.
A group I helped form in 2006 reviewed our current funding system and recommended fixes to help our schools. That nonpartisan committee had broad representation, including school administrators, board members, UW researchers and legislators. Gary Andrews and Nancy Hendrickson from our region graciously provided strong voices for the interests of small, rural districts.
It was gratifying when some concepts advanced by the committee became provisions in the state budget, including easing state aid losses when student enrollment declines. Committee members showed that a focus on solutions without divisive bickering can produce real-world, helpful ideas.
I hope that same spirit of compromise carries over to next session. It's encouraging to see renewed interest at the Capitol to tackle school funding reform in 2009. Governor Jim Doyle in his State of the State address early this year signaled his willingness to participate in school funding talks. I appreciate his willingness to lead and look forward to joining him to improve how our schools are funded.
One of our goals should be to maximize direct aid to school districts. Our last state budget failed that principle by shifting funding to the school levy credit. The name is misleading because school levy credits actually are payments to municipalities to offset municipal tax levies, and schools never see the money. The shifting of millions of aid dollars to the levy credit meant less in general school aids that go where needs are greatest - small, rural and poor school districts such as many of the districts in our region.
Another of our goals should be to hold our federal legislators accountable to do more to help us keep our schools strong. As a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article stated, Wisconsin ranks 49th of 50 states and District of Columbia for education funding received from the federal government. We rank 15th in our state and local funding commitment.
I welcome your thoughts on how we can enhance school funding. Please be in touch by e-mailing Sen.Schultz@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, serves a large region of southwest Wisconsin, including Lafayette County. His Web site is
senatordaleschultz.com.
