Hundreds rally in Madison
for school-funding reform
Several hundred people showed up in Madison,
Tuesday, to deliver a message to state government loud
and clear: Enough is enough. It’s time to change
Wisconsin’s school-funding system.
People from all over the state came together for the
10th anniversary of the Walk on the Child’s
Side, an event first held in June of 1999 to draw
attention to the effects of the way the state funds
public education. At the time, walkers left Butternut
and covered the 240 miles to Madison to build support
for funding reform.
Between 300 and 400 school board members, parents,
students, and educators walked from the University of
Wisconsin Library Mall to the State Street entrance
to the Capitol for a brief rally. The highlight of the
noon event was the appearance by a handful of legislators
that resulted in an ovation from the crowd.
» For more coverage of the Walk on the Child’s
Side, click
here
» See additional
pictures of the Walk on the Child's Side
»Press
release after the Walk
News coverage:
»
Channel 27, WKOW-TV, Madison coverage
»
WEAC website coverage
»
Channel 3, WISC-TV, Madison
» Advocating
on Madison Public Schools (AMPS)
» WisconsinEye
coverage
»
Wisconsin Public Radio
Videos track reform plan’s
introduction
to the Assembly Education Committee
WAES members from around the state joined with other
participants in the
School Finance Network (SFN) to put a reform plan
in the hands of the Legislature at a hearing of the
Assembly Education Committee on April 21.
Since the present system was put into law, people throughout
the state — spearheaded by WAES — have pointed
out how the formula limits the educational opportunities
of children and jeopardizes the security of communities
around the state. This hearing was an acknowledgement
by the Legislature that there is a better way to fund
education.
You can see the full hearing on the WisconsinEye
website (and scroll down to April 21, 2009). If
you cannot see the video produced about the hearing
on this website, click on the yellow bar in your browser
and "allow blocked scripts" or you can see
it at http://www.sfnwisconsin.org.
WAES presentation is first
step
in joining funding reform effort
Funding reform is the 800-pound gorilla in the Wisconsin
Legislature.
Schools and children are critical to the economic and
social success of our state. As it should, the state
makes a large investment in public schools. And, because
so much research says an even larger investment is needed,
elected officials have been reluctant to get anything
done.
The only way we will finally get a finance system that
builds opportunities for children and security for our
communities is when the people of Wisconsin demand it.
That is the philosophy behind the educational outreach
of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES).
By taking a free presentation and discussion to anyone
who asks, WAES is building the type of coalition that
gives rise to political power. People want good schools
and they want fair taxes, and that’s the message
we deliver.
Since 2004, WAES has done at least 173 presentations
for 8,224 people. That doesn’t include having
booths at conventions and conferences, being part of
panels and forums, organizing events, meeting with the
media, or publishing research. When it comes to school-funding
reform, WAES is the organization leading the pack in
trying to bring various groups and individuals together
for one purpose.
Wisconsin’s public schools are in a funding crisis-a
crisis many have been in since the present school-funding
system was implemented 15 years ago. If you want to
be part of the solution and the effort to bring about
change, now is the time. Click
here to sign up for a presentation or contact
Tom Beebe at 920-650-0525 or tbeebe@excellentschools.org.
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