District Invites Citizens to Sign Letter Critical of Walker's Budget

The Shorewood School District begin its grassroots campaign against Gov. Scott Walker's 2013-15 budget proposal on Monday when it invites residents to join the effort.

The district will begin collecting signatures Monday on a letter voicing opposition to Walker's budget. Signature pages will be available at each of the district’s schools in the main office and the letter itself will be available for signatures in the superintendent office, 1701 E. Capitol Dr.

On Tuesday, during a two-hour work session, the School Board, district administrators and teachers drafted a letter addressed to Walker, state Rep. Sandy Pasch, state Sen. Lena Taylor and members of the state Legislature’s Education and Joint Finance Committees, along with a fact sheet about the district and a resolution. 

Walker's budget includes a freeze on public school district revenue limits, a slight increase in state aid, and an expansion of the voucher program, which allows students to attend private schools in lieu of underperforming public schools.

In the letter, officials ask for lawmakers' support of a $250 per-pupil increase in the revenue limit, a more sustainable funding formula, financial support for implementation of the new ACT suite standardized test and more freedom for innovation by waiving some state mandates including school start dates and teacher evaluation reforms. 

Find the letter, resolution and fact sheet attached to this article. 

School officials go on to say they have made reductions to realize savings, but it has become "increasingly difficult to maintain academic growth while providing essential art, music, drama, athletic and other programs that our community values.

"During the past few years, our District took difficult steps to reduce spending by shifting significant health care costs to our employees and reducing benefits," the letter reads. "Because of these actions, Shorewood’s budget has been reduced to levels that are less than district spending during 2006-07 school year."