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Click Here For Equity News Archives Email bhaig@execpc.com to receive every new issue. In this issue:
AEFbegan in 1992 with a common goal of achieving greater equity in the distribution of resources for our kids and greater equity in the effort our property taxpayers make for education. Our motto - "those who spend the same should make the same effort on their property taxes" - was an essential element in helping us keep our focus throughout the years. It remains a valid objective. Reflecting back, we can be proud that we have highlighted this issue. Our successes include helping:
Looking ahead, we know that with the myriad of school finance reform proposals in the hopper, it is vital for us to maintain an oversight that will not allow our goals to be eroded. That means your support is just as important as ever. No other group can do this because of the desire to appease all. When school finance reform takes place, we need your help to make sure our kids and property tax payers are properly represented. I announced my retirement as Elk Mound School Superintendent this summer, though you can be sure I will remain committed to our goals and plan to work with you as long as we believe we can help make a difference. Jesse Harness, the new Menomonie superintendent, will take my place on the AEF Steering Committee. Jesse represents those schools in CESAs 11 and 12, but I will remain an at-large member. Thanks for your continued dedication in striving to reach our goals. We are counting on you to help us keep equity in the forefront. New Governor to Address School Finance Reform This newsletter includes the Governor's appointments to his Task Force on Educational Excellence. AEF's input is evident, as evidenced by the inclusion of our attorney, Dave Hase, who did an excellent job presenting our case before the State Supreme Court in Vincent v Voight. See all the members on the bottom of this page. As no legislators are included among the appointments, however, we must consider how the legislature is likely to react to any proposal made by the task force. The mood at the Capitol seems to be mixed.
In either case, AEF members must discuss the issues of equal access to revenue, funding for additional educational needs and fair taxation with both task force members and our legislators. We are sending all task force members our Legislative Proposal, and I encourage you to attend any task force sessions - they will be open to the public. Also, please make sure that your legislator truly represents your districts on school finance issues. During the budget session the legislature restored the primary aid hold harmless proposed for elimination by the Governor. Even though only 13 relatively wealthy, high spending districts would have been adversely affected, the legislative budget allowed those districts to retain those funds. We need to make sure that such a gift to wealthy high spenders is not repeated. Feel free to call if I can help you in any way. Governor's Task Force Directives Governor Doyle created the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence (Task Force) with the mission of reviewing the state of education in Wisconsin and identifying measures to positively reform Wisconsin's education delivery system. These include:
In addition, the governor directed the Departments of Administration, Revenue, Public Instruction, and other state agencies to assist the task force with administrative and support services. The task force must submit a final report on its findings and recommendations to the governor. According to Chairman Michael Spector, the governor hopes to have some kind of response by December in order to set the framework for the legislative session. "It's really important to have a process and build consensus - get the facts and the opinions from many sides. We can't satisfy everybody, but we'll look at what will have broad state impact. And we have a governor who has made it clear there will be no tax increase," Spector said in an interview with AEF. "I can assure you that Doug and Dave and your group will be very much heard. They're really organized and in a good position to provide information," Spector said, adding that he had already received many letters from people. "We want to truly open it up to the public to participate and see what they have to say." Spector said the Task Force likely would get together in September or early October to determine how the group would proceed. What did you think when you were named to the Task Force? I was pleased. I had talked to Gov. Doyle during the campaign, and he knew my interest in school funding. How do you anticipate working with the others? (Chairman) Mike Spector is an organized, knowledgeable person. I've worked with him before during the Milwaukee/ suburban desegregation lawsuit. I recognize a few of the other names. I think it will be challenging to bring everyone up to speed on school finance issues, but I'm looking forward to the process. What would you like the Task Force to recommend to the governor? What I'd like to see is the state establish a fair system that gives every district a reasonable shot at getting resources - pretty much the objectives of the (Vincent v Voight) lawsuit. You can add more money to a system over time, if there is a will to do that, but if it isn't distributed fairly, you're off on the wrong foot. It's also important that the system respects local control and addresses the needs of student populations. How realistic is the Task Force's mission? The scope is challenging to say the least and goes beyond just looking at the finance system. I hope the focus stays on finance, and the work relating to the other parts of the mission is limited to the financial aspects of those components. Michael J. Spector, Shorewood, chairman of the task force, retired chairman and managing partner at the law firm Quarles & Brady, former Shorewood School Board member. Kathleen Adee, Washburn, 4-K/early childhood special education teacher. William Andrekopoulos, Milwaukee, superintendent of the Milwaukee Public School System. Barbara Arnold, Madison, senior academic adviser for University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Library and Information Studies. Mark Bugher, Madison, director of University Research Park, former secretary of the departments of Revenue and Administration. Judith Crain, Green Bay, retired, served on the Green Bay Board of Education for 16 years, including five years as president, president of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. Timothy Cullen, Janesville, Cobalt Corporation senior vice president, former secretary of the state Department of Health and Social Services. John Drew, Milwaukee, autoworker at DaimlerChrysler Kenosha plant, president of United Auto Workers Local 72. Neil Duresky, La Crosse, retired, La Crosse School Board member, current president of Wisconsin Association of School Boards. Lois Glover, Milwaukee, retired, current president of WISDOM, a statewide organization of congregations working for justice. Andrew Gokee, Stevens Point, outreach specialist for the Native American Center at UW-Stevens Point. Mark Hanna, Sheboygan, investment consultant at Ziegler Investment Services, member of the Sheboygan School Board. David Hase, Mequon, attorney at Cook & Franke, 22-year member of the Mequon-Thiensville School Board. Pam Johnson, Oconomowoc, registered nurse at Children's Hospital, member of the Oconomowoc Area School District Parents Advisory Council. Willie Jude, Milwaukee, principal of Custer High School. Thai Lee, Appleton, teacher, English as a second language, also teaches Hmong Literacy in Appleton. Kim Lentz Grau, Wausau, court reporter in Marathon County, involved in parent teacher organization at two schools in Wausau. Bruce Meredith, Madison, general counsel for the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union. Cecilia Millard, Racine, third grade teacher at Julian Thomas Elementary School. Dean Ryerson, Wisconsin Rapids, district administrator of Wisconsin Rapids School District. Vicki Boxer Samson, Fox Point, attorney, has served on the Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Board and the Nicolet High School Board. Tim Scobie, Chippewa Falls, general counsel for Mason Shoe Company. Regina Siegel, La Crosse, principal at Emerson Elementary School, Wisconsin Federal Relations Coordinator for the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and member of the School Administrators Alliance and the Association for Wisconsin School Administrators. Debra Smith, Exeland, district administrator for the Bruce School District, helped create agreement to support the transition of students with disabilities into the community. Jay Smith, Middleton, former president of the UW Board of Regents, chief executive officers of JLS Investment Group. Jeffrey Smith, Brunswick, owner of Bob Smith Window Cleaning, founded the Eau Claire Area School Districts parent advisory committee. Rita Tenorio, Milwaukee, teacher at Fratney Elementary School, chair of Urban Education Task Force under Superintendent Benson that resulted in the creation of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE). |
