We can do more for school-funding
reform
The successful hearing on
Senate Joint Resolution 27 was an excellent beginning.
If we want school-funding reform, however, we must keep moving
forward. You can be an integral part of that effort.
Next, school-funding reformers need a positive vote in the
Senate
Education Committee. It is chaired by Sen.
John Lehman, but the entire committee needs to
hear from you.
Remind the members of the Education Committee that although
they represent their own constituents, they also represent
every child in the state.
Once reported favorably out of the Senate Education Committee,
the next stop for SJR27 will be the full Senate. It is not
to early to ask Sen.
Russell Decker, of Weston, to schedule debate
and discussion as soon as possible. At the same time, contact
your State Senator and let them know how you expect them to
vote. To find out who represents you, go to
http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/.
The companion resolution (Assembly Joint Resolution 35)
was not sent to the Assembly Education Committee, but rather
to the Committee
on Education Reform chaired by
Rep. Donald Pridemore, Hartford.
Unfortunately, Rep. Pridemore has said he will not hold a
hearing on the resolution. Fortunately, he said that prior
to the hearing on Nov. 15. It is now our job to ask him to
schedule a hearing as soon as possible.
Rep. Pridemore also needs to hear from his constituents.
Additionally, he and all committee members need to hear from
everyone who wants funding reform because, as do their Senate
counterparts, they represent all of the children in Wisconsin.
In the past, opposition to both resolutions has centered
on the fact that they have mandated change without specifying
what that change should be. Therefore, the argument goes,
it is a waste of time.
WAES maintains it is the Legislature’s job to fix the
problem it created. Lawmakers, for their part, have done little
or nothing including discussing the crisis. While WAES and
other groups continue to work on specific plans, the coalition
maintains that the resolution is the only tool available to
start the discussion, gauge the mood of the Legislature, and—in
reality—keep hope alive around the state.
There is much work yet to do to bring needed school-funding
reform to Wisconsin. SJR27/AFJ35 are important steps along
the way.
In addition to forcing the Legislature to discuss the issue,
it puts it in the public eye as the November 2008 elections
approach. When the campaign season starts in earnest in the
spring of next year, WAES will either introduce its own funding
system or support the work of another group or coalition that
has a specific, complete proposal.
Until that time, SJR27/AJR35 are the only horses in town
hitched up to the school-reform wagon.
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