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March 18, 2003
Sen. Alberta Darling
317 East - State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Rep. Dean Kaufert
308 East - State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Dear Sen. Darling and Rep. Kaufert:
As you begin your work on this extremely difficult budget, school districts across the state are looking to the committee to stem the decade of deep cuts to school budgets. Since the inception of revenue limits in 1993, the Madison Metropolitan School District has cut nearly $25 million and eliminated almost 250 positions - including a $7.2 million cut with 80 positions eliminated a year ago. This year, in order to comply with revenue limits, the district must cut about $9 million. It is impossible to keep this round of cuts out of the classroom.
The Governor's budget retains the allowable revenue limit increase of $234. I urge the committee to adopt the revenue limit increase. Without the allowable increase, Madison Schools face an additional $6 million cut.
The District also supports the Governor's transfer of $100 million from the Transportation Fund to school aids. Madison Schools allocated $7.4 million for transportation costs in the 2002-03 budget. With dramatic increases in fuel costs during the last few months, our costs will exceed the $7.4 million. The Governor's proposal helps soften the blow of higher fuel costs for school districts.
The Governor maintains all categorical aids. I ask that you also support this proposal. Madison Schools have seen impressive gains thanks to SAGE. Five years ago only 59% of all students scored at the advanced/proficient level on the Third Grade Reading Test; last year 71% of Madison's 3rd graders were at the highest levels. These gains occurred while the number of test-takers increased from 82% in 1998 to 90% in 2001-02. Over 75% of the District's K-3 students are in SAGE classes, including 91% of low-income students. About one-third of the District's students are from low-income families.
A critical component of state aid is reimbursement for summer school. With state accountability measures, coupled with requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind, summer school is essential for struggling students to succeed. The District began a Summer Reading Academy two years ago to curtail summer learning loss among low-income students. Last year the program allowed 500 students to show improvement from the end of spring to the end of the six-week summer program.
I know you face many tough decisions over the next several weeks. School boards have spent a decade making tough cuts and eliminating jobs; we simply can't absorb anymore cuts without doing serious damage to this state's superior K-12 system. Thank you for your consideration of the issues outlined.
Sincerely,
Art Rainwater
Superintendent
C: Joint Finance Committee members
Madison Legislative Delegation
Sen. Michael Ellis
Rep. Luther Olsen
Rep. Scott Jensen