By Pete Knotek, REA Vice-President

For many years spring time has brought budget cuts that have eroded the quality of education for students in Racine Unified.  The only difference this year is that it took until August for District Business Office demands to result in budget cuts.  As in the past, the cuts negatively affect kids throughout the District.  These harsh cuts include elimination of dozens of assistant jobs and numerous teacher positions. 

Educational programs hit hard by the cuts range from bilingual classes and elementary school libraries to special education services and bussing.  The impact of the cuts on educators such as bilingual teachers, librarians, special education teachers, and speech pathologists is now being felt.  Many members have raised questions about what the rationale was for specific cuts and what steps were taken to plan for potential problems caused by the cuts.

Why do the cuts happen every year? 

One huge problem is the School District Revenue Cap Law passed by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1993.  This law is meant to control school costs and reduce property taxes. To accomplish these purposes, the amount of local property tax revenue that districts can raise from one year to the next is limited.  Districts are allowed to increase per pupil expenditures from year-to-year by a small specified amount.

Over the years, these state mandated education caps have forced school districts to cut programs and lay off staff, severely damaging the quality of education they can provide for students. In some districts, the caps have forced schools to close and have even threatened to force the closing of entire school districts.  In Racine Unified, a referendum that may have provided millions of dollars over two years was planned for June but cancelled by the Board of Education.

Another driver of local budget cuts are the historic challenges our District has faced in professional planning and implementation of the budget.  This year is extraordinary in that the recent investigative  report regarding contracts with the Public Business Consulting Group (PBCG) points out District failure to provide sufficient checks and balances, properly reconcile accounts, and implement new financial planning programs.  The Board of Education and PBCG have agreed to negotiate the terms of their contract with the school district. It has become clear to both parties that a consultant acting in the role of COO and CFO creates a potential conflict.

What's next?

To address concerns raised by teachers and teaching assistants, the REA is working to survey members on the impact of budget cuts and organize professional responses.  Meetings are being held with affected teachers and data are being collected so that the REA is well informed when communicating with administration and the School Board about the effects of the cuts.

As we pick up the pieces from another round of budget cuts it is crucial that educators join in solidarity and rally around the need for high quality budget planning.  Budget planning and implementation must be driven by student needs rather than disconnected, bottom-line declarations from the District Budget Office.

Report Your Concern

If you have been directly affected by the August 2007 RUSD budget cuts, please communicate with the REA through “Contact Us” at www.rea-reaa.org, by telephone at 632-6181, or by sending a note.          Be sure to provide the following:  1.  Give your name and school.  2.  Describe the problem in detail (e.g., “reduction of services from a teaching assistant threatens student/staff safety on a daily basis”).   3. State what steps you have taken at your school to solve the problem (e.g., Payday Meeting, filed potential non-conformance).