Florence, Madison and the great public education divide (long)

[sybylla]

Florence School Board votes to close the district
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=46549&ntpid=2

....(Florence School Board Member) Smith has argued that the board could save tens of thousands of dollars by finding less expensive health and dental plans for employees and by cutting retirement benefits.

But other board members say the district has exhausted its cost-cutting measures and can no longer ensure a quality education. They blame a state funding formula that limits district spending unless residents approve higher property taxes. The state-allowed spending increases haven't kept up with fixed costs, board members say.

The heavily forested district has a small tax base, little industry, declining student enrollment and falling state aid.

"My cause is to change the state funding formula," (Florence School Board President) Brereton said. "The Legislature needs to know that there is a state school district prepared to fight for quality education. We drew a line in the sand."

Wisconsin State Journal Opinion
Blame state leaders if schools close
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=46525&ntpid=0

This article has lots of details on what has lead to the financial collapse and lays blame on both the previous school boards as well as the legislature in Madison.

....Without the extra (referendum) money, the Florence district is in a vise that could soon squeeze it out of existence. Every time the district loses a student, a state cap on its property tax levy tightens. Since 1996, the district's student population has fallen by more than a third.

Outsiders also have been buying up property around Florence for vacation homes. As a result, property values have soared by nearly 10 percent annually.

The state formula equates high property values with wealth. Yet the median household income of Florence residents is well below the state average.

Here's what all that has done to the district's budget: Florence was able to increase its spending by 4.4 percent five years ago. But this year, with fewer stu dents and more property wealth, the school district was forced to cut spending 1.5 percent despite fixed costs.

****snip****

LaCrosse Tribune Opinion: It's time for an overhaul of state school financing plan
by Tribune editorial staff

....Meanwhile, politicians have been promising a revision of the state's school aid formula — which all sides seem to agree needs to be changed to reflect the current economic picture. Add the state revenue limits to the problems of the school aid formula, and many districts are struggling to make ends meet.

One district in northern Wisconsin is considering disbanding. A combination of declining enrollment and sharply increased real-estate taxes in northern Wisconsin has caused officials in the Florence School District to want to disband it.

Ten years ago, the district had more than 900 students. Today it has fewer than 700. And property values and taxes are up, even though incomes are not. The increased values triggered a drop in state aid under the school aid formula. School officials say they can no longer afford to operate their schools.

Given all of the problems associated with school funding in Wisconsin, it is long past time for a serious review and revision of how the state finances public education.

So everyone agrees, according to the LaX Tribune that the funding formula should be changed. But get a load of this bullcrap that came out of latenight budget negotiations - according to Spivak and Bice

Reynolds taken to school on tax credit idea
by Cary Spivak & Dan Bice
Posted: July 11, 2005
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jul05/340298.asp

Now who exactly was state Sen. Tom Reynolds trying to help?

Last week, the West Allis Republican agreed to vote for the budget bill after he pushed through an 11th-hour proposal to give a state tax credit for home-schooling families. But his attempt at grabbing some budget pork isn't winning him any friends among its intended beneficiaries.

In fact, they sound downright annoyed.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Doyle said the office has been flooded with calls and notes from those opposing the $100-per-child tax credit. "Most of the e-mails and calls are from parents of home-schoolers," said Doyle flack Melanie Fonder. The office had heard from only one person who urged the Democratic governor to keep the Reynolds item in the budget.

***snip***

And that one thoroughly puke tactic provoked this opinion from of all places, the Appleton Post Crescent:Editorial: State’s obligation is to public education

If they have the resources, parents may choose to send their children to private schools, or to educate them at home, instead of sending them to public schools.

They may make that choice because they want their child’s education to include religious instruction public schools can’t offer. They may want control over the curriculum they wouldn’t have if their child attended public schools. Or they may want their children to have individual attention public schools can’t give them.

Regardless of motive, it is a choice. Many parents aren’t in a position to choose, and for them, there is a quality public school system. The state Constitution, recognizing the important public benefit of an educated population, guarantees it. The state, therefore, has an obligation to support the public schools. It has no responsibility for funding private education.

But in the same budget proposal that could require school districts to lay off teachers, increase class sizes and cut programs, the state Senate inserted a $100 per child tax credit for parents who have chosen not to send their children to public K-12 schools. The credit is expected to cost $14.6 million.

If the state can afford $14.6 million, it should go to support public education. Private education choices aren’t the state’s business.

I'm beginning to think the tide is turning in regards to school funding in Wisconsin. I think the pukes are gonna come out of this stinking to high heaven. The only question is whether or not Doyle will stick to the highroad and whether or not he will be helped by doing so.

I expect school funding to be a big issue next year during elections season. I think it can be used against the pukes in the senate and assembly. If we play our cards right, we should be able to turn one house if not both.

[unschooler]

1. That's funny. There's been a campaign against benefits for

public school employees here in Oregon, too.

Who thinks there's NOT a vast, right-wing conspiracy?

[TheMightyFavog]

2. People need to get the public/private sector tradeoff into their heads...

You work in the rivate sector, you get paid more, and less bennies

Work in the public sector, you get paid less, but get more bennies.


How hard is this for the average person to understand?