Lawson Report - August 23, 2012

Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email:   Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
  
Web Site: 
 SenatorChrisLarson.com

August 23, 2012

Dear Friend,

Given that the first day of class is  just around the corner, this week's newsletter will focus on the reality our children, their parents, and neighborhood teachers will face this school year.

Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7

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Back to School
Our neighborhood schools are gearing up for the 2012-2013 school year. For students, teachers, and parents this means buying new school supplies, planning the upcoming classroom curriculum, or ensuring parent-teacher conferences are on the family calendar. But with the release of state aid numbers for our local schools, we have also been given a stark reminder of just how different this school year may be compared to years past.
  
According to the Wisconsin Department   of Public Instruction, 10 of Milwaukee County's 18 schools are bracing   themselves for additional cuts to their state aid funding. These cuts have been estimated to total $7,415,941 for the 2012-2013 school year.   Included in the schools that are expecting cuts are two school districts in our community--Milwaukee Public Schools and the St. Francis School District. The cuts for these two school districts alone are expected to reach $3,740,377.
  
This trend is not limited to our schools here in Milwaukee County, but can also been seen across Wisconsin. The Department of Public Instruction has released state aid statistics for all of Wisconsin's public schools, which show that 267 of   the state's 424 school districts, or 63% of Wisconsin school district, will face cuts to their education aid. This will amount to cuts of   $79,443,087 for our children's schools.
  
Support for our children's education was put on the back burner during this legislative session as funding from our neighborhood schools was slashed in order to give away these   taxpayer dollars to special interests and corporations. Under the Republican budget approximately $1.6 billion was stripped from education statewide. These decimating cuts hit some communities harder than others   and have been especially detrimental to children in Milwaukee and the surrounding area. Below are results from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrator's annual survey:

• Wisconsin lost 4,000 educational  jobs, leaving schools understaffed and children underserved
• 4 in 10 students attend a district  with larger class sizes in grades K-6 - 40% of students are in districts that eliminated sections or increased class size for core  subjects--English, Math, Science, and Social Studies
• Districts are offering fewer art, music, physical education, Advanced Placement, and foreign language classes
• The biggest cuts were to special education programs, which are followed by library and media center staff, reading coordinators, programs for at-risk youth, and drug and alcohol abuse programs

Similar results can also be seen right here in our own community. Here is how Milwaukee County's 18 school districts have been negatively impacted by sweeping education cuts:

• Milwaukee County was left struggling with 1,719 fewer teachers, aides, and administrators in the most  recent school years as compared to 2010
• 1/2 of Milwaukee County school districts reported increased class sizes and higher student-to-teacher ratios
• Cuts to support services, such as special education, were made in five of our 18 Milwaukee County School districts

The choices we make regarding education in Wisconsin will play a  significant role not only in the success of our children, but also in determining the economic success of our state and local businesses.   Attacks on education do not represent Wisconsin's values and runs counter to our aim of increasing job creation and economic vitality. It is time that we work together on initiatives that invest in all levels of education and ensure that those education dollars are being spent wisely. As a member of the Senate Committee on Education and Corrections, I will continue to monitor the state of our community schools to ensure that we have a realistic, fact-based, and truthful understanding of how the success of our children and our local economy are being affected by continual cuts to education.