Wisconsin School Boards Urge Legislators Not To Cut State Funding

A growing number of school boards in Wisconsin are drafting resolutions calling on state lawmakers to ease Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed cuts in state aid.

School boards in 10 districts have written their local legislators urging them to ease a proposed $150 per pupil cut in state aid next school year. The resolutions claim the budget will lead to “base” cuts from $36,000 for the tiny Pepin School District to $12 million for Milwaukee Public Schools. Menomonie School District superintendent Joe Zydowski said the cut, inflation and a revenue cap works out to a shortfall of around $1 million.

“The fact of the matter is, we’re hoping to make it this year without having to short-term borrow for cash flow purposes,” Zydowski said.

The Menomonie School Board is considering its own resolution against the cuts. Letters urging parents to act have been sent by 23 other school districts and all superintendents from Green County.