Wisconsin has spoken on the state budget. Now let’s make sure we’re heard. Take action now before it’s too late, and share these stories to amplify kids’ needs.

Wisconsin Public Education Network partners across the state took local action on June 21, 2021 — and throughout the week — to demand that the legislature pass a budget that meets local kids’ priority needs and closes the gaps in public education.

News Roundup & Stories from Wisconsin

• STATEWIDE
  • Wisconsin School Officials, Families Push Back Against Legislature’s School Funding Plan – Wisconsin Public Radio
  • Wisconsin School Leaders Blast Republican K-12 Spending Plan – Todd Richmond, Associated Press, WUWM
  • School Districts, Democrats Decry Republican K-12 Education ‘Shell Game’ for Wisconsin – Mitchell Schmidt, Wisconsin State Journal
  • Public Education Leaders on State K-12 Funding – WisconsinEye Morning Minute, June 22, 2021
  • UpNorthNews Email Roundup, June 21, 2021 (second section: “Education Advocates Call Out GOP School Spending Plan, Which Barely Provides a Boost”)
  • “How to Blow a $4 Billion Surplus” – UpNorthNews’s “Devil’s Advocate” Podcast, June 23, 2021, Executive Director Heather DuBois Bourenane joins Kristin Brey, Pat Kreitlow and Kirk Bangstad
  • Wisconsin School District Leaders Blast GOP’s Education Budget, Despite Access to Billions in Federal Money – Elizabeth Beyer, Lake Geneva News

Check out our YouTube playlist for video clips from the day, including interview and clips from the Dane County press conference, courtesy of the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools.

• MADISON AREA/DANE COUNTY
  • ‘Flat Budgets, Increasing Costs’: School Leaders, Organizations Push for Increased School Funding in 2021-23 Budget – Scott Girard, Capital Times, June 21, 2021
  • Channel 3000 Video Coverage of Dane County Press Conference at the Capitol
    • Dave Hoekstra, conservative Sun Prairie School Board member, speaks at 19:13
    • Heather DuBois Bourenane’s closing remarks begin at 31:50
  • Officials Bash State Budget Plan During SPASD Budget Meeting – Sun Prairie Star, June 25, 2021
    • ‘“Either they’re ignorant of ESSER and what it can be used for or they’re ignorant of what schools need,” [Phil] Frei [Sun Prairie Area School District Director of Business and Finance] said. “Because we need an increase in our per pupil spending that can’t come from ESSER dollars. I think that’s one of the messages we need to get out.”’

• MILWAUKEE AREA
  • School Leaders Call on Lawmakers to Use Projected Surplus Funds for Education – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 21, 2021
    • ‘U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, speaking outside the MPS central offices, called the move a “shell game” undermining the intention of the federal requirement. 
      
      “It’s going to lead to educational deficits, and we’re calling upon the Republicans to stop treating us like we’re stupid,” Moore said. “Stop high-fiving yourself about meeting the educational needs of our children, because you have not.”’
  • MPS Calls for More State Funding, Republicans Say Additional Federal Aid is Enough – TMJ4, June 21, 2021
  • Full Video of Milwaukee Press Conference, MPS on YouTube
  • “Invest In Kids” Light Brigade, June 20, 2021 – Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) / Joe Brusky on Flickr
  • South Milwaukee Virtual Press Conference, June 22, 2021 – via Zoom
    • “To say that we should use [federal COVID-19 earmarked relief funds] for ongoing operations is the definition of fiscal irresponsibility.” – Blaise Paul, South Milwaukee School District Business Manager

• EAU CLAIRE AREA
  • ‘I Feel Like We’re Being Punished’: Schools Push Back Against GOP Budget Plan – UpNorthNews, June 21, 2021
    • “We used the [federal money] in the way we were supposed to. We used it to keep our schools open, to keep our students learning while keeping them safe,” [Osseo-Fairchild Superintendent Lori] Whelan said. “Now I feel like we’re being punished for doing that.”
  • ECASD Officials, Parents, Alumni Call on Lawmakers During Statewide Day of Action – WQOW 18, June 21, 2021
    • “‘These ESSER funds are one-time dollars to help support our students and families who have endured significant emotional trauma, mental health concerns, and learning loss,’ said ECASD Superintendent Michael Johnson. ‘We desperately need our legislators to collaborate; recognizing that an ongoing investment in our students at such a critical time in their lives will greatly benefit our community and state for many, many years.'”
  • Day of Action for Education Organized Ahead of State Budget Votes – WEAU 13, June 21, 2021
  • Full ECASD Press Conference as streamed on Facebook Live

• FOX VALLEY/GREEN BAY
  • Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education Hold School Funding Rally – We Are Green Bay, June 21, 2021
  • Wisconsin School Leaders Blast Republican K-12 Spending Plan – WBAY, June 21, 2021
    • ‘“The federal help is a short term thing, once it’s gone it is gone. Then we’ll need to operate and the Joint Finance Committee’s proposal is going to put us in bad shape in about a year,” said Jim Bowman, a member of the Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education.’
  • Advocates for Public Education Rally for More Funding for Schools – Fox 11, June 21, 2021
  • Education Activist Groups React to Proposed State Education Budget – NBC 26 Green Bay, June 22, 2021
    • ‘”In this state in particular but in society in general we underfund special education,” [John] Jahnke [who sits on the Governor’s Council on Autism and the State Superintendent’s Parents Advisory Council] said. “The long-term impact of underfunding special education is that a child with a disability becomes an adult with a disability who’s underprepared.”‘

• MORE COMMUNITIES
  • PORT WASHINGTON/OZAUKEE: Letter: Skimping on Special Ed Funding Hurts All Public School Students – Ozaukee Press, June 23, 2021
  • LAKE MILLS: Public School Advocates Call for Fair Funding – Lake Mills Leader, June 21, 2021
    • ‘“Few things can attest to the strength and unity of a community like a public school system. At their best, public schools are vehicles of formal and informal learning, social connections, and democracy. The way our community bands together to support our students inside and outside of the classroom is a testament to our values,” said Annika Purisch, a 2021 LMHS graduate during the CAPE event. “I would not be the person I am today without my public education. Without my public school teachers and principals and staff to support me over so many years. I would like to make a not-so-radical statement and say what happens inside of the walls of a classroom matters. And it’s about time our state government started acting like it.”’