Contact: Tom Evenson
(608) 266-2839
Cornell, Wisconsin – Governor Scott Walker traveled to Cornell today, where he discussed the historic K-12 investments included in his biennial budget proposal with Cornell Middle and High School students, teachers, and staff. The governor’s proposal lifts K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high and includes $649 million in new state aids for all K-12 schools in the state.
“Students currently in school are our future leaders – our next generation of lawmakers, educators, law enforcement officers, farmers, and manufacturers,” Governor Walker said. “What they’re learning today is laying the foundation on which they’ll build their careers. So by investing in student success today, we’re ensuring the future success of Wisconsin.”
The Cornell School District is estimated to receive $6.082 million in funding from the state under Governor Walker’s biennial budget, including:
- An increase of $244,620 in Per Pupil Aid. Governor Walker’s budget proposal increases per-pupil funding by $200 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2018 and $204 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2019 – the largest increase since the 2005-2007 biennium.
- An increase of $17,164 in High-Cost Transportation Aid. High-Cost Transportation Aid provides additional transportation aid to school districts with per-pupil transportation costs more than 150 percent of the state average and with a density of 50 pupils per square mile or less.
- An increase of $94,473 in Sparsity Aid. Sparsity Aid provides $300 per pupil of additional funding to small rural districts that have less than 745 pupils and a population density of fewer than 10 pupils per square mile of district attendance. The Governor’s budget increases this aid to $400 per pupil. Governor Walker’s budget proposal also creates a $100 per pupil tier of Sparsity Aid funding for districts with 746-1000 pupils, which provides additional stability for school districts that hover around the 745 buffer.
The Cornell School District may also be eligible for further funding under Governor Walker’s budget proposal, such as mental health grants, energy efficiency incentives, and special needs grants.
