Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839
Blanchardville – Governor Scott Walker traveled to Blanchardville today to visit students and teachers at Pecatonica High School. There, he highlighted the significant K-12 investments included in his Executive Budget proposal, including $649 million in new state aids for all of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools. Governor Walker’s budget proposal also lifts K-12 investments to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high.
“It’s great to be here in Blanchardville today to highlight some of the great things we’re doing to support schools like Pecatonica High School in our budget proposal,” Governor Walker said. “We know Wisconsin’s rural schools face unique challenges, including high transportation costs, broadband access, and declining enrollment. That’s why providing greater state support for our rural schools is a top priority, and we will continue to focus on investing in public schools so the future leaders of our state have the knowledge and skills they need to help move Wisconsin forward.”
The Pecatonica School District is estimated to receive an investment of more than $6.3 million over the biennium in total state aids under Governor Walker’s budget, including:
- An increase of $274,820 in Per Pupil Aid. Governor Walker’s budget increases per-pupil funding by $200 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2018 and $204 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2019. This marks the largest increase since the 2005-2007 biennium.
- $38,693 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.
- $100,568 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. 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 pupil buffer.
The Pecatonica 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.
To learn more about Governor Walker’s proposed investment in K-12 and rural education, click here. For Governor Walker’s full 2017 Budget Address, click here.
