Leaders of a new bipartisan task force tackling ways to improve Wisconsin’s much-maligned school funding formula are realistic about chances any changes will be made.
The group is looking for how much state aid goes to public schools. The issue is so difficult that there hasn’t been a serious look at making changes in 20 years.
The panel that met for the first time on Thursday is the latest in a long line of groups that have studied ways to improve the formula.
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State Sen. Luther Olsen, of Ripon, and co-chair of the panel, said he doesn’t want this latest study to “gather dust.”
Olsen also said changes that result in school districts losing state aid won’t go anywhere without additional funding and that is a challenge.
Prior to the hearing, lawmakers said that they are optimistic their work this time around will yield positive changes. Public hearings are planned across the state over the next year. The group plans to put forward recommendations in time for the 2019 state budget.
The panel is also co-chaired by state Rep. Joel Kitchens, of Sturgeon Bay. Kitchens and Olsen are both Republicans.
Other members include superintendents of the Green Bay and Grantsburg school districts, the lobbyist for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the business operations director for Messmer Catholic Schools.
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