Supt. Rainwater's Thank You Letter to Governor Doyle

August 1, 2005

Governor Jim Doyle
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707

Dear Governor Doyle,

On behalf of our students, parents, staff, and community, thank you for keeping your promise to make public schools a top priority in the biennial budget. Confronted with a $1.6 billion deficit, you kept your word and protected programs and opportunities for children.

Your veto message related to school district revenue limits correctly characterizes returning to current law as the most important spending resource for schools. Clearly, the bulk of school funding goes to assist beleaguered property-tax payers. Your extraordinary efforts to maintain current law on revenue limits are deeply appreciated.

Assistance to schools through special education and bilingual-bicultural categorical aid are important state efforts to help local school districts, but much more work remains to be done. I applaud your efforts to provide more resources for the hugely successful SAGE program and regret the Legislature's opposition. I encourage you to continue your work to promote early childhood education programs – a critical investment in our state's future.

Please be assured we stand ready to work with you to continue to provide the best education possible for our children. Thank you again for your leadership and steadfast support for public education.

Sincerely,

Art Rainwater
Superintendent

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