MADISON – In the evening hours of June 12, Republican members of Joint Finance voted to continue and deepen the cycle of disinvestment in public education.
Rep. Cruz stated, “Republicans chose the last week of school for many districts to heap contempt on the work of dedicated public school teachers and administrators. As a classroom teacher and teachers’ union president, I know how hard everyone has worked throughout the school year to do the best for every public school student. Following more than a decade of disinvestment, Republicans have again chosen to ignore our communities’ clear priority of fully funding public education. This is a bitter disappointment.”
Rep. Cruz invites constituents to a town hall on education funding, Monday, June 23, 5pm to 6:30pm at Gateway Tech Racine Building Quad Rooms. Racine Unified Superintendent Soren Gajewski, Joint Finance Committee member Rep. Tip McGuire and Democratic Minority Leader Greta Neubauer will join Rep. Cruz. In voting against the Republican spending proposal, Rep. McGuire emphasized the ongoing property tax burden of funding public education through referenda and criticized Republicans’ refusal to address that burden. Prior to her no vote, Sen. LaTonya Johnson pointed out the proposal will actually increase property taxes.
Rep. Cruz noted, “By increasing spending on private School Choice programs and independent charters, Republicans show their true intention to expand the privatization of K-12 education in our state. Every tax-payer should be outraged, as I am, at the transfer of tax dollars to institutions that are not accountable to the public under state law. Every tax-payer should be outraged at the transfer of public money to schools with no mandate to serve every child, while they further challenge public schools to carry out that mandate. Please join me in coming together to support our public schools.”
Parents, teachers, and administrators voiced need for a minimum Special Education reimbursement at 60% sum sufficient throughout state-wide budget hearings earlier this year. The Republican budget for 35% in the first year and 37% in the second is barely an increase over the current reimbursement rate for public schools and may not be an increase at all, adjusted for inflation. Voucher schools receive 90%. Republicans emphasized an increase to high special education funding, which impacts very few children and leaves the great majority of need unaddressed.
