MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM THE
CAPITOL.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> FOR MORE ON HOW THE STATE
BUDGET WILL TREAT SCHOOL FUNDING
AND THE NUMBERS NEGOTIATED
BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR, "HERE AND NOW"
REPORTER STEVEN POTTER HAS
DETAILS.
>> I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORTER
CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP ACROSS
ALL SECTORS OF EDUCATION IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR
ANOTHER SUMMER, LAWMAKERS HAVE
NOW IS DECIDED ON DETAILS FOR
ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND
EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE STATE
BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THAT'S FUNDING FOR
WISCONSIN'S K THROUGH 12
SCHOOLS.
LIKE PAST BUDGETS, EVERYONE FROM
EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO TEACHERS
AND PARENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING.
>> I'M REALLY SCARED ABOUT THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE HISTORICALLY
UNDER-RESOURCED OUR KIDS FOR 40
YEARS NOW, IMPOSING JUST MEASURE
AFTER MEASURE THAT MAKES IT
HARDER AND HARDER FOR KIDS TO
KEEP UP AND CATCH UP.
>> THAT'S HEATHER DUBOIS WITH
THE ADVOCACY GROUP CALLS THE
WISCONSIN PUBLIC EDUCATION
NETWORK.
SHE SAYS THAT SOME 40% OF THE
TESTIMONY AT THE RECENT JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS
AROUND THE STATE HAVE BEEN
EDUCATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS,
AND OTHER STATE RESIDENTS ASKING
FOR AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION FUNDING.
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR
DEFOREST AND ALL WISCONSIN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT THIS
BIENNIAL BUDGET MAKES UP FOR
WHAT FAILED TO DO THE LAST TIME
BY PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH AN
ADEQUATE AND RECURRING FUNDS BY
WHICH WE CAN OPERATE EFFECTIVELY
ON.
>> ONE OF THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS
FACING THE STATE'S EDUCATION
PROBLEM IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE
HAVE SUCH A TEACHER CRISIS RIGHT
NOW IN WISCONSIN IS BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE EVERY
DISTRICT CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE A
LIVING WAGE LEVEL FOR ALL
EDUCATORS.
>> ACCORDING TO EARLY DETAILS
ABOUT A DEAL BETWEEN GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS AND REPUBLICAN
LEADERS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, THE TWO SIDES HAVE
AGREED TO AN INCREASE IN
EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE
UPCOMING STATE BUDGET BY $1
BILLION.
THAT MONEY WILL COME FROM A MIX
OF STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES.
IT INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF
$2K4RFORNEW EDUCATION FUNDING PE
ALSO INCLUDES STATE MONEY FOR
THE PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE
VOUCHER PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY
THERE, STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH EIGHTH DISBR GRADE VOUCR
WILL GET $8,000 MORE ANNUALLY
AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL GET $3,000
MORE PER YEAR.
NIC KELLY IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ADVOCACY
GROUP KNOWN AS SCHOOL CHOICE
WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS THERE ARE MANY REASONS
WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
>> SOME PEOPLE DO IT IN TERMS OF
ACADEMICS, SOME DO IT IN TERMS
OF SITUATIONS THAT THEY RESULTED
FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY WANT OUT.
SOME PEOPLE DO IT FOR RELIGIOUS
REASONS.
BUT IT'S REALLY WHAT AN INTERNAL
DYNAMIC OF A FAMILY WANTS.
>> KELLY SAYS THAT THE $7
BILLION SURPLUS PROVIDES A LOT
OF INCENTIVE FOR THE SCHOOL
FUNDING CHOICE INCREASE.
>> NOW IS THE TIME BECAUSE
PARENTS ARE CALLING FOR IT.
IT'S NOT AN AGENDA OF ANY ONE
INDIVIDUAL GROUP.
IT'S THE VOICE OF THE PARENTS
AND THE FAMILIES ACROSS THE
STATE THAT WANT THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AND FINDING AN
EDUCATION THAT IS GOING TO FIT
THEIR CHILD'S NEEDS.
>> BERRY 1990 SAYS AN INCREASE
IN SCHOOL FUNDING IS THE THING
TO DO RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT KIDS NEED IS PROTEIN
SIMPLE, AND IF WE JUST PUT OUR
FUNDING PRIORITIES WHERE THOSE
PRIORITY NEEDS ARE, WE COULD SEE
FIX MOST OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH
HOW WE DO SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE
STATE TOMORROW.
LET'S JUST DO IT.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M