Supt. Rainwater's Letter of Thanks to Senate Democrats

June 28, 2007

Senator Judy Robson
Majority Leader
211 South — State Capitol
Madison, WI 53703

Dear Senator Robson,

I want to thank you for your leadership on the 2007-09 state budget. In particular, the K-12 package crafted by Senate Democrats generally helps to mitigate some of the constraints school districts face under state-imposed revenue limits.

Increasing resources for the incredibly successful SAGE program is an important step to helping school districts provide the necessary resources for struggling students. Our goal has always been to make certain that children leave third grade reading at grade level; the added classroom resources helps us achieve that goal.

There is nothing more important to me, our parents and the broader community, than ensuring that our children and staff are safe at school. The revenue limit flexibility for purchasing safety equipment and hiring essential security staff acknowledges the critical importance of school safety. After cutting over $60 million from our cost-to-continue budget over the last 14 years due to revenue limits, Madison is not alone in having to weigh safety concerns against other critical needs. The tragedy in Weston this year — and potential harm averted in other Wisconsin school districts — is ample evidence of the need for flexibility in this area.

Increased aid for special education is another important element in the Senate-passed budget. When revenue limits began, the state reimbursed school districts for almost 45% of special education costs; that reimbursement has fallen to less than 29%, a loss of $9.4 million in resources to Madison Schools.

Aid for declining enrollment districts, revenue limit flexibility for school nursing services, and greater flexibility in the use of Common School Fund school library resources are all positive initiatives for Wisconsin's schools.

On the whole, the K-12 items are helpful, but I must express concern about eliminating the Qualified Economic Offer without corresponding changes to the revenue limit law. The current school finance system was constructed with the belief that two-thirds funding, the QEO and revenue limits were linked together. Clearly, the current system is unsustainable long-term, but to end the QEO without altering the revenue limit component will lead to larger class size, fewer options for students, and, ultimately fewer teachers and support staff.

I look forward to working with you — and anyone else interested — in changing the school funding system and the revenue limit law. Thank you again for your efforts on the K-12 budget.

Sincerely,

Art Rainwater
Superintendent

C: Madison State Legislative Delegation