Oconomowoc — Melissa Winker (D-Oconomowoc), candidate for State Assembly–District 38, today called upon Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Racine) to cease its pressure campaign and work to support school districts in their plans to re-open. Referencing a July 29th letter signed by 46 Republican members of the state assembly, using Wisconsin Assembly letterhead, and sent to school superintendents across the state, the lawmakers urged school leaders to “open their doors to provide every student with an in-class experience,” open up athletic fields, and support families who wish to sign up for school choice even as that annual deadline has passed.
“Everyone can agree that in-person education is superior to virtual learning,” stated Winker. “School systems are trying their best against extremely concerning options. On the one hand, not all students are equally equipped to participate in virtual school, lacking reliable internet and technology. Yet filling our schools too quickly this fall will lead to COVID spread, threatening the health and lives of everyone who enters the building. Schools will require masks, barriers, cleaning staff, classroom aids, temperature taking, testing, and more, to keep people safe.
“To address this urgent dilemma, community schools need resources, not pressure from their largest funder. We call on the State Legislature to immediately convene in session to do what only it can do: allocate resources and identify policies that will be of assistance to the people they were elected to serve – the families of Wisconsin.
We further call on Speaker Vos and Rep. Dittrich to voice their support of Gov. Evers’ public health measures that protect the safety of families and workers. Wisconsin has over 65,440 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 1,000 people have lost their lives to the coronavirus, including at least 59 in Waukesha County.”
