Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools

Members of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) didn’t find much in Governor Jim Doyle’s budget to cheer about, Tuesday night, but said they understand the predicament he is in. The group did emphasize, though, it will continue to work for comprehensive school-funding reform.

 “WAES knows Wisconsin is in a deep economic hole,” said Tom Beebe, the Alliance’s executive director. “We understand, so we are grateful the Governor didn’t dig the hole much deeper for districts all over the state who have been buried under 15 years of revenue limits.”

 “At the same time,” Beebe said, “WAES members are disappointed that this budget does little to begin the discussion about funding reform. Schools have been cutting important programs and services for years. We should have talked reform back in the early 1990s when the economy was good. We didn’t. Fifteen years later our kids and our communities are paying for that mistake.”

 The question has to be asked, “When is a good time to talk about it?”
 Beebe was quick to add, however, that the Governor didn’t shut the door on reform. “We’re ready to talk with Gov. Doyle whenever he wants to talk. He is a good friend of education and we’re here to work with him and anyone else interested in revitalizing Wisconsin’s proud tradition of excellent public schools. Now we all move on to the next step, the Joint Finance Committee. Our goal hasn’t changed.”

WAES is an independent non-profit organization consisting of about 150 school districts, teachers unions, professional organizations, parent groups, student governments, and individuals. It is also a member of the School Finance Network (SFN), a coalition that rolled out a comprehensive school-funding reform plan in 10 locations earlier this month. SFN includes WEAC, WASB, SAA, WASDA, Wisconsin PTA, AFT-Wisconsin, WAES, the Fair Aid Coalition, and the Southeastern Wisconsin School Alliance.

 The SFN plan is financially accountable, invests in students, addresses funding inequities and benefits every district in the state.  It also helps children with special needs, the disabled, low-income students, and those from rural districts.

 WAES and SFN are well aware of the lost jobs, home foreclosures, and other bad economic news sweeping the country. “We also recognize,” he said, “that schools have been under revenue limits for 15 years and that adequately funding them now can be the economic driver that leads Wisconsin out of the recession.”

 “The Governor realized that and did what he could to minimize any further damage to public schools,” Beebe said. “For that, we thank him. We also thank Wisconsin’s own Cong. Dave Obey for recognizing the vital role of public schools and directing part of the federal stimulus package toward children and their education.”

“None of that, however, changes the crisis in school funding,” he said. “School districts will still cut critical programs and services. Staff will still be laid off and class sizes increased. Communities will still be divided by wasteful referenda.”

 “Now isn’t the time to settle and it’s certainly not the time to back off,” Beebe said. “Now is the time to make sure we’re at the Joint Finance Committee table to hold them accountable for making sure every child in Wisconsin receives a quality education.”
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Thomas S. Beebe, Outreach Specialist
  Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools
  315 Maple Street
  Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
  
          

  Cell: 920-650-0525
  E-mail: tbeebe@excellentschools.org
  http://www.excellentschools.org