Madison, Wis. – Wednesday—the last session day of the year, the Wisconsin Assembly had an opportunity to pass legislation that would help Wisconsinites by lowering costs and making life more affordable. Instead, the majority party put forth 43 bills that generally ignored what Wisconsinites, from children to farmers to seniors, are demanding.
Rather than invite discussion and work on dozens of popular, bipartisan bills, today’s legislation focused on further harming public education by encouraging school district consolidation.
“Republicans have defunded public education for decades. Their bills today advocating the consolidation of school districts are a clear admission of their long-term strategy to close schools,” Representative Roe (D-Janesville) said.
The enormous costs associated with consolidation are not limited to dollars.
“Rural schools would feel the most pain—longer bus rides, fewer options for kids, not to mention hardship for families and teachers. Republicans should tell us which schools they would close in their districts,” Roe continued.
Rather than punish students and attack the heart and core fabric of our communities, rural communities need more public-school funding, healthcare, and local government resources.
Rep. Roe and Legislative Democrats have put forward bills assisting families, students, and communities. They have launched the Wisconsin Opportunity Act to combat poverty, the Healthy School Meals for All, affordable housing proposals, improved shared revenue bills and clean water initiatives
“Think back to Governor Walker’s tenure, when he stated that money put toward consolidating and closing schools was a very poor use of taxpayer dollars,” Roe said.
“Republicans continue to disappoint me. Whether it is feeding our children, providing postpartum healthcare, or funding our schools, Assembly Republicans actively obstruct, avoid, and run from doing the right thing,” Roe added.
“Please don’t close our schools. Fund our schools,” Rep. Roe concluded.
