Wisconsin's schools are some of the best in the country. As citizens, we value education and know that our state is better when we teach our children all they can learn in school. That excellence has been a challenge for many of our school districts because of state imposed revenue caps, declining funding and rural enrollment. This is a big problem and one I have tried to solve with various ideas on how to change the way schools are funded to give more local control and a better stream of funding to make sure our children are taken care of.
While the Legislature is not in session this summer, please keep thinking about how you might change the way schools are funded and share with me your thoughts about school funding and education in general. As kids go back to school this fall, it is a good reminder that despite the efforts of a few legislators, school funding remains an unsolved issue on our plates.
For families getting ready for school, the revenue caps and qualified economic offer may not be an item of discussion at the dinner table; rather school supplies, bus schedules and backpacks are a bigger topics. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some good suggestions for students of all ages. You can view the full list online at www.aap.org. I found the following good highlights for kids of various ages.
Making the First Day Back Easier: Remind your child that they are not the only one who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Point out the positives of going back to school; it will be fun, and a time to reconnect with friends. Refresh their memory about specific good times from the past school year. Kids from kindergarten to college worry about the first day of school, take a few minutes to talk about the day ahead of time.
Choose the Right Backpack: Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps. Pack heaviest items in the middle of the backpack. A backpack should not weigh more that 10 to 20 percent of the student's weight.
Traveling to and From School: Talk about safety on the bus and when approaching and leaving the bus. If your child bikes to school, discuss always wearing a helmet and verify if your school has a "check in the office" policy for grade school bikers. If your child walks to school, walk the route with them the first day or in advance of the school year; cross with a guard or at a controlled intersection. If your child drives a car to school; have serious conversations about safe travel with the legal amount of other teens in the car. Do not allow your teen to eat, drink, text, or talk on the phone while they are driving.
Working together, we can keep Wisconsin's school children a priority in the Legislature and in our own homes. For more information on school funding, contact my office at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, represents the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties.
While the Legislature is not in session this summer, please keep thinking about how you might change the way schools are funded and share with me your thoughts about school funding and education in general. As kids go back to school this fall, it is a good reminder that despite the efforts of a few legislators, school funding remains an unsolved issue on our plates.
For families getting ready for school, the revenue caps and qualified economic offer may not be an item of discussion at the dinner table; rather school supplies, bus schedules and backpacks are a bigger topics. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some good suggestions for students of all ages. You can view the full list online at www.aap.org. I found the following good highlights for kids of various ages.
Making the First Day Back Easier: Remind your child that they are not the only one who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Point out the positives of going back to school; it will be fun, and a time to reconnect with friends. Refresh their memory about specific good times from the past school year. Kids from kindergarten to college worry about the first day of school, take a few minutes to talk about the day ahead of time.
Choose the Right Backpack: Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps. Pack heaviest items in the middle of the backpack. A backpack should not weigh more that 10 to 20 percent of the student's weight.
Traveling to and From School: Talk about safety on the bus and when approaching and leaving the bus. If your child bikes to school, discuss always wearing a helmet and verify if your school has a "check in the office" policy for grade school bikers. If your child walks to school, walk the route with them the first day or in advance of the school year; cross with a guard or at a controlled intersection. If your child drives a car to school; have serious conversations about safe travel with the legal amount of other teens in the car. Do not allow your teen to eat, drink, text, or talk on the phone while they are driving.
Working together, we can keep Wisconsin's school children a priority in the Legislature and in our own homes. For more information on school funding, contact my office at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, represents the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties.
