FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002
Both the Madison School Board and the Madison Teachers Inc. Board of Directors have unanimously approved a resolution calling for an overhaul of the state school aid system, that includes eliminating revenue limits and the qualified economic offer (QEO).
The resolution also concurs with a 2000 state Supreme Court ruling indicating that for Wisconsin's school aid formula to be constitutional, adequate resources must be provided for students in special education, limited English-speaking students and low-income students.
"Inadequate state resources for students in special education programs, limited English-speaking students and students from impoverished backgrounds hamstring the District's ability to provide important educational opportunities for all students," said Madison Board of Education President Bill Keys. "School board members are elected local officials and should be accountable to the voters on taxing and spending issues - current law takes away that authority."
MTI Executive Director John Matthews said revenue limits and the QEO - which can limit a total contract increase to 3.8 percent if the union and district can't reach agreement - hurt the quality of education. " If school districts are going to be able to attract and retain the best teachers, they must not be limited in resources which cause unreasonably low wages," Matthews said.
"By the state and federal government mandating services and not providing either the funding or the means for local school boards to raise the funds, education of all students is harmed. By severely limiting wage increases due to the QEO and revenue limits, teachers are leaving to enter other professions and others are retiring in their prime. The quality of education in Wisconsin schools is suffering because of these inequitable laws," Matthews said.
In a recent survey of school superintendents, 81% responded that the quality of education is decreasing, 70% say they have cut the purchase of new curriculum materials, and 50% say they have laid off teachers, Matthews said.
State-imposed revenue limits began in 1993 and were characterized by proponents as a short-term solution to curtail rising property taxes. In 1995 the QEO was established as a trade-off for the state picking up two-thirds of the total cost of K-12 education. However, the school aid formula is based on local property values, and subsequently, Madison Schools only receives about 25 percent of its budget from the state.
Gov. Scott McCallum and Democratic challenger Jim Doyle have both said changes are needed in the school finance system, but neither candidate has offered specific plans.
For more information contact
John Matthews, 257-0491 or
Bill Keys, 238-8575
Whereas, MTI and the Madison Metropolitan School District concur with the State Supreme Court Vincent v.Voight, 2000 ruling that every child is entitled to a "sound basic education," and
Whereas, the Court further ruled that a sound basic education must take "into account districts with disproportionate numbers of disabled students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with limited English language skills" and provide the necessary state resources for those students, and
Whereas, the current school funding system continues to provide dwindling state resources for students with disabilities, those from low-income families and students that are non-native English speakers, and
Whereas, the current school funding system has eliminated the ability of locally elected school board members to make necessary taxing and spending decisions due to state-imposed revenue limits and the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO),
Now, therefore, be it resolved that MTI and the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education urge the Legislature and the Governor, as the first priority for the 2003-04 legislative session, to eliminate the QEO and revenue limits, increase funding for classes of students identified by the State Supreme Court, and restore local control to Wisconsin's school boards.
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-663-1879
email: newsrelease@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 2002-10-08
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