WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED:
● Conducted
our third workshop for the SWSA (Southeastern
Wisconsin Schools Alliance which consists of 33
districts throughout SE WI) on developing a local
advocacy group.
● We
have been following several bills this past year
that have been introduced to the legislature and
then moved to education committees, the assembly and
senate where they seem to be stagnating. These
include:
Senate Joint Resolution 27 and Assembly Joint
Resolution 35.
These bills call for a change to the state's school
funding formula to be enacted by July 1, 2009.
However there are no specifics as to what the
changes might be. As we’ve said in the past, change
in and of itself is not necessarily a good thing and
could make our situation worse rather than better.
Senate Bill 365 and Assembly Bill 653.
These bills call for some tweaks to the current
system. It includes some minor adjustments to
transportation, declining enrollment, and a 1%
flexibility option. At this time it is unclear if
the adjustment to declining enrollment would help
us, the language is unclear. The 1% flexibility
option would allow the school board to increase the
revenue limit 1% with a 2/3 vote. This would be
helpful but still falls short of what we need.
We
have met with SWSA to discuss what may be coming up
in the next legislative session. We anticipate that
there may a few proposals that will be introduced,
some of which are major overhauls and some that are
tweaks. We will be monitoring these as new funding
options are introduced and keep you posted.
● Attended
town hall meetings for students and parents
regarding the impact of the district budget deficit
for the 2008-09 in order to address questions
regarding legislation and the political climate.
WHAT’S AHEAD:
● Meet
with Sheldon Wasserman to discuss his candidacy for
State Senator and explain the concerns and issues
facing our district.
● Man
an information table at the
M-T Education
Foundation Fun Run on June 1st
to continue to build awareness of the legislative
issues.
● March
in the Fun Before
the 4th parade for the fourth
consecutive year to raise community awareness. We
hope many of you can join with us. More information
to follow – mark your calendars for the morning of
Saturday, June 28th.
● On
October 23rd we will be co-sponsoring,
along with Whitefish Bay Advocates for Education, a
candidate’s
debate between incumbent Senator Alberta
Darling and Representative Sheldon Wasserman. The
debate will be at the Schlitz Audubon Center.
● ASMTS
membership drive!
Watch for renewal notices (sorry, we’re a bit late
with them) later this week for the 2008 calendar
year membership. If you joined or renewed in the
last quarter of 2007 (October, November or December)
you do NOT need to renew your membership, it is
grandfathered in. Your $5 membership contribution
helps us to cover the cost of our website, fliers
and other promotional materials.
Did you
know that the current public school funding legislation
. . .
·
Has
been in existence since 1993 and largely ignores the
issues that confront schools today. The current formula
creates a harmful tension between schools and the
communities they serve.
·
Forces districts to reduce services to meet a mandated
financial limit.
·
Forces districts with level or declining enrollments to
reducing services disproportionately. Over half
of the districts in Wisconsin suffer this accelerated
loss of services.
Why do
other states seem to find a way to avoid these
educational problems and continue to grow their schools,
their economic engines of the future, in ways
Wisconsin once did?
Strong Communities need Strong Schools
We
encourage you to
join the Alliance for
Strong Mequon Thiensville Schools and to contact your
legislators to urge them to restructure the School
Funding formula so that our district and districts
across the state can maintain a strong education system.
Alliance for Strong Mequon-Thiensville Schools Statement of
Operating Principles
-
ASMTS operates on the premise that providing
a high-quality public education for the residents of
Mequon-Thiensville is a communal priority.
-
ASMTS operates on the premise that it is the
responsibility of state and local elected officials
to make public education a priority and to take
actions reflective of and consistent with that
responsibility.
-
ASMTS operates on the premise that the
ability of state and local elected officials to
fulfill their responsibilities is enhanced when
their constituencies are knowledgeable and active in
the legislative process as it relates to educational
issues.
Based upon the foregoing, ASMTS may become involved in
some or all of the following activities:
-
Educate Mequon-Thiensville residents about important issues
and developments that affect public education in the
community.
-
Communicate with elected officials regarding matters and
developments that affect public education in the
community.
-
Encourage and/or facilitate communication between community
residents and elected officials.
-
Advocate for or against current or proposed legislation
affecting public education.
-
Encourage and/or facilitate the creation of similar groups in
other communities for purposes of collaboration.
Matters that fall outside the scope and mission of ASMTS
include, but are not limited to:
-
collective bargaining and contract issues
-
curriculum design and content
-
private fundraising initiatives
-
internal operations of the district schools
