Shorewood Schools Urging Residents To Show Support For 2017-2019 State Budget Proposal

SHOREWOOD - Shorewood Schools Superintendent Bryan Davis will speak in front of the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee Wednesday at State Fair Park to support Governor Scott Walker's proposed increase in school funding for the 2017-2019 state budget.

Davis released a statement last week in support of the proposed $200 per student increase in 2017-2018, with a $204 per student increase in 2018-2019 for all public school districts statewide.

Davis expressed concerns that the increase will not pass due to competing demands in the state transportation budget and will be speaking with state legislators over the next few weeks, urging them to support the proposal.

He says this budget proposal will bring back state aid from 2011-2012, before more than $1 million was cut from Shorewood School District as part of Walker's controversial ACT 10 bill in 2011.

The superintendent pointed to the 2016 Shorewood School Summit, in which more than 100 citizens participated and identified priorities for the district, which included improved services in supporting student mental health, modernizing and maintaining facilities, and creating authentic learning experiences for students. He feels the budget proposal is critical to this work.

For further information on the upcoming budget and the Joint Finance Budget Hearings, visit the Wisconsin Budget Headquarters website.

Citizens who plan on attending the Wednesday meeting to express their opinions are reminded to arrive around 8 a.m. to sign up to testify.

Those who can't attend the meeting are encouraged to contact Shorewood State Legislators David Bowen at (608) 266-7671 and Lena Taylor at (608) 266-5810.