Madison, Wis. — On Wednesday, November 19, Assembly Republicans put forward a package of bills designed to consolidate school districts and close buildings. This comes after more than a decade of the GOP’s work to underfund our public schools in the legislature. Assembly Democrats blasted Republicans for their plan to close schools:
Spectrum News 1: “Nobody is asking us, after more than a decade of the GOP underfunding our schools and sending state dollars to vouchers, to incentivize closing schools across the state,” Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine said.
Cap Times: “If there is money to close public schools, there is money to fund public schools,” longtime teacher Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine, said ahead of the Assembly’s floor session.
WQOW: “[Rep. Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire] says the bill creates an incentive for small schools to close and merge with other districts, harming rural communities with the loss of jobs and community programs. Phelps says the state legislature has failed to provide enough funding to keep small districts operating, even with a $4.6 billion budget surplus at the end of last year.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “I am shocked that after starving these schools for over a decade, this body now wants to provide funds to shut them down, not keep them open,” said Rep. Andrew Hysell, D-Sun Prairie. “Aren’t we here to help our constituents? Instead of incentivizing districts to consolidate, we should increase general aid to schools.”
Urban Milwaukee: “Republican lawmakers have spent the last 15 years intentionally defunding our schools, and now they want to close them. Let’s be clear: failing to fund the schools fails Wisconsin’s children, drives up housing costs, and diminishes a powerful economic engine. We should all be alarmed that the Republican majority wants to close our schools,” said Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa.
