Fall 2001

Email bhaig@execpc.com to receive every new issue.  In this issue:

• Schools as Scapegoat - Bill Vincent
• AEF Vision and Goals
• Heading for a School Funding Showdown - Doug Haselow

Schools as Scapegoat

Bill Vincent, AEF Steering Committee Chair

Everywhere you turn in state government these days you hear about the looming budget deficit. And when the budget is balanced, the scapegoat is likely to be public school districts.

State officials historically have pointed to the interdependence of three elements (revenue limits, QEO and two-thirds state funding) in defending the current system. Revisions now being discussed are likely to affect all three elements and raise public school costs or reduce non-property tax revenues, or both. In any event school property taxes probably will increase and, if so, state officials will probably try to blame school districts for the increase.

What we should have is a broad ranging public policy discussion of the state responsibility for giving all children an equal opportunity for a sound basic education that will equip them for their roles as citizens and enable them to be successful economically and personally, taking into account the additional needs attributable to disability, poverty and limited English proficiency. Unlike the recent meetings in Northern Wisconsin (page 3), the discussion should be open to all legislators and the public.

Obviously, a higher level of advocacy by more individuals and school districts will be needed to convince legislators, especially in an election year. For that reason AEF will be hosting a Booth (No. 722) at the 81st state education convention January 23-25, 2002. The focus of that booth will be to broaden public and legislative awareness and increase membership in AEF. For specific actions see the AEF Vision, Goals and Strategies.

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AEF Vision and Goals

AEF VISION

A public school finance system that provides:

• Equal educational opportunity for all children by treating them equitably regardless of where they live.
• Fair treatment for taxpayers regardless of where they own property.
• Educational programs sufficiently comprehensive to equip all students for their roles as personally and economically successful adult members of our society.
• Additional funding to meet the additional needs and cover the additional costs of serving every disabled student, economically disadvantaged student, and limited-English-speaking student every year.

AEF GOALS

• Enact the 2002 AEF Legislative Proposal
• Achieve taxpayer and student equity under the state educational standard (as set by the Wisconsin Supreme Court) as the state reviews its financial situation.

AEF STRATEGIES

Broaden Political Support

• Develop and promote the 2002 AEF Legislative Proposal.
• Engage in an intensive communication effort to educate the public about the state educational standard and the need for equal opportunity for children and fair taxation for property owners.
• Meet with the governor's staff, legislators and other public officials on a regular basis to seek support for AEF legislative proposals.
• Encourage AEF members to meet with public officials to seek support for the AEF Legislative Proposal and confront those whose actions fail to support it.

Increase AEF Membership

• Create educational and informational materials for current and prospective members.
• Promote membership by establishing a meaningful dialogue with potential school district members at an AEF booth at the 2002 WASB Annual Convention.
• Encourage members and others to attend the January 2002 AEF annual meeting to hear Justice William Bablitch's discussion of the new educational standard.

Increase Political Activity of AEF Members

• Communicate AEF's vision and goals to members through regional meetings, quarterly newsletters, legislative bulletins, and AEF web site.
• Encourage AEF members to discuss the individual elements of the AEF Legislative Proposal publicly at every opportunity.
• Encourage AEF members to contact the local media in support of the AEF Legislative Proposal.

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Heading for a School Funding Showdown

Doug Haselow, AEF Executive Director

It is very difficult to understand exactly what is going on in the State Capitol. We are told that the state budget just enacted is now expected to be $300 million to $1.3 billion out of balance. The Governor has hired consultant Morris Andrews to help create a political consensus on how to address the budget deficit.

Andrews has been meeting with various interest groups (including AEF) about specific issues including the financing of public schools and/or reducing shared revenues to municipalities.

Secret Meetings
The Governor directed Andrews to hold a secret session near Minocqua to discuss these issues with some interest groups. I was not invited, and others notably absent from the meeting were representatives from Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin Federation of Teachers, Institute for WisconsinÕs Future, League of Municipalities and the Alliance of Cities (which has assembled its own group to discuss possible revisions).

Sen. Mike Ellis (R-Neenah), who has advanced his school finance plan to address the new standard, was not invited either. Even State Superintendent Burmaster did not get a call. "How we pay for public education in Wisconsin is a critical issue. It was a debate that should have been open to taxpayers and the press," she said in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Governor's Budget Balancing Act
Although the governor says he will not cut school aid for the current fiscal year (yes, your tax rate already has been determined), he has not said anything about school aids budgeted for next year (2002-2003). AEF will watch carefully as he tries to balance the state budget and encourage him to promote taxpayer and student equity.

At the same time, Sen. Chuck Chvala (D-Madison) says the Senate will not reduce school aid, as that would lead to higher property taxes. He also announced that Sen. Russ Decker (D-Shawano) will chair a committee to make recommendations about possible revisions of our school finance system. This could be significant because Decker seems likely to succeed Sen. Brian Burke (D-Milwaukee, who is running for Attorney General) as chair of the Joint Finance Committee. To date the committee has not met.

I believe school funding will become even more of a partisan political issue over the next year. Many legislators and leaders are now focused on the issues related to the operation of legislative party caucuses. Because of the potential serious consequences for some, there seems to be little legislative interest in the budget deficit at this time and even less interest in financing schools. Additionally, with the lack of a state commitment to meet its responsibility under our new standard, it is clear that we need to broaden public awareness of the inequities and increased help in addressing those inequities.

Bablitch to Speak
AEF is working to increase our base of support by getting more concerned citizens and school districts actively involved in this issue.

State Supreme Court Justice William Bablitch will attend the AEF membership meeting in Milwaukee at 3:45 on Thursday, January 24 in conjunction with the state education convention.

Justice Bablitch was part of the majority that established Wisconsin's new educational standard in the Vincent v. Voight case. He called that decision "a landmark case in the history of education and for the state of Wisconsin." He's also a former Portage County District Attorney, and served in the Wisconsin Senate, representing Adams, Portage, Waushara and Wood Counties. During his tenure in the Senate, Bablitch served as President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader. He has announced plans to retire in 2003.

Justice Bablitch's comments promise to be both interesting and enlightening. I urge you to attend and bring any board members or other interested people to hear the discussion and review our new 2002 Legislative Plan.

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