Budget in Brief K-12 Education Highlights
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 16, 2021
The summary of Governor Evers’ K-12 education budget initiatives begins on p. 13 of the Budget in Brief. Check it out here.
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Half of Evers’ Budget Increase slated for K-12 Education
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 16, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers today proposed a budget that would boost state spending by $3.2 billion with half of that going to K-12 education as he laid down a marker on his priorities ahead of a possible reelection bid in 2022.
The two-year spending plan, which is sure to face stiff resistance from the GOP-run Legislature, includes restoring collective bargaining powers for many state employees after Republicans stripped them under former Gov. Scott Walker a decade ago.
It also would require background checks on all firearms sales and creation of a red-flag law, both proposals that Republicans have already rejected. GOP lawmakers also have signaled they would reject two other big items Evers released ahead of the formal budget introduction: legalizing recreational marijuana and expanding Medicaid. Both of those items were projected to bring tens of millions in new revenue to the state.
In addition, the Evers budget plan proposes new or expanded tax cuts to benefit seniors, the poor, veterans and first-time homebuyers. But he proposed tax increases on large manufacturers and the wealthy.
Evers has battled GOP lawmakers for much of his two years in office, and their relationship has frayed even more during the COVID-19 crisis over various steps the guv has taken to address the pandemic.
Still, Evers challenged the Legislature to “summon the will to get this done” and help the state bounce back from the crisis.
“There’s no time for false promises of hope and prosperity with empty words that you know full well won’t match your actions,” Evers said in a virtual address received by GOP lawmakers assembled in the Assembly chamber as Dems watched remotely. “You can disagree with me if you want, but don’t punish the people we serve so you can settle a score no one but you is keeping.”
See more here.
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Evers to Wisconsinites: Ignore Those Who Say State Can’t Do More
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 16, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
In his budget address tonight, Gov. Tony Evers will tell Wisconsinites to ignore those who say the state can’t make health care more affordable while fully funding schools and cutting taxes.
What’s more, Evers will argue the state also has the means to support farmers, rural communities and small businesses while protecting natural resources and investing in clean jobs.
“Because they’re wrong. We can,” Evers will say, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks ahead of his scheduled 7 p.m. virtual speech. “I’ve got a blueprint that will do just that and make sure we bounce back and better than before.”
Evers will tout proposals to help small businesses such as $200 million for those impacted by the pandemic and a new $100 million venture capital program.
He also will argue that a lack of access to affordable housing impacts kids’ performance in the classroom, lead pollution in water impacts the health care system, and good roads are necessary to help small businesses and farmers get their products to market.
“We have to connect those dots between these issues to make sure we can recover from this crisis,” Evers will say.
Republicans have expressed opposition to some of the proposals that Evers has already rolled out, such as legalizing recreational marijuana and expanding Medicaid.
Still, Evers will say he believes a budget can be approved with bipartisan support that finally realizes “the future we’ve dreamed.”
“Change is possible. The future we want to build is possible. Because I know you will hold us to account and demand it,” Evers will say.
Evers’ speech is expected to run 45 minutes on his Facebook page and YouTube channel.
See excerpts from Evers’ prepared remarks here.
See coverage of the budget and reaction from lawmakers tonight here.
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Updated Info on JFC Action Changing DPI ESSER II Distribution Plan
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 10, 2021
From WisPolitics.com . . .
JFC voted along party lines today to use more than $65 million in federal COVID funds to reward districts that have been offering in-person instruction and encourage others to get kids back in the classroom.
But the plan wouldn’t impact the $617.5 million in federal COVID relief that schools will receive based on a formula that takes into account the number of low-income students residing in each district.
The GOP motion overhauls DPI’s plan for the more than $65 million. Still, the GOP changes wouldn’t impact the state’s largest districts, many of which have been offering virtual-only instruction so far this school year. That’s because they weren’t in line for any of the $65 million under the DPI plan. Under the GOP approach, they wouldn’t be eligible for the money Republicans now want to use to incentivize schools returning to in-person instruction.
Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, knocked the proposal, saying Republicans were putting a perverse incentive before districts to get kids into classrooms regardless of spikes in COVID cases in their communities. He also noted Republicans just voted to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ public health declaration in an attempt to end his mask mandate, suggesting the GOP wasn’t taking the pandemic seriously.
“You’re making a political point showing how tough you are by wanting everything to go back in person,” Goyke said.
Co-chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, countered it was about rewarding districts that have incurred costs for in-person instruction such as cleaning and safety precautions that others haven’t had while virtual. He added offering in-person instruction is the right thing for kids.
“We know it’s good for our kids. It’s the right thing to do, I believe,” Marklein said. “It also provides an incentive to those schools that are not open to open to in-person instruction.”
The stimulus bill former President Trump signed in late December included $686.1 million for Wisconsin elementary and secondary schools. Of that, $617.5 million must be distributed to districts and independent charter schools based on a formula that accounts for the number of low-income students residing in each district, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The money can cover costs between March 30, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2023, for things like responding to the pandemic, training and professional development related to sanitation and preventing infection diseases, purchasing equipment, and providing mental health services.
Of the remaining $68.6 million, DPI had called for using $1.2 million for administrative costs and nearly $2.4 million for minimum grants of $100,000 per eligible district and charter schools. The remaining $65 million would’ve gone to minimum grants of $395 per pupil for the 172 districts eligible.
But dozens weren’t in line to receive money from that pot of funds, including many of the state’s largest districts.
Under the GOP motion that was approved 11-4, DPI’s administrative costs were cut to $700,000. Republicans also would keep the pot of nearly $2.4 million for the minimum grants of $100,000 per district and charter school. The remaining $65.5 million would be divided up based on a formula that accounts for the hours of in-person instruction in the 2020-21 school year, and only the 172 districts that were originally in line for the funds under the DPI plan will be eligible. The amount of the grants wouldn’t be known until the end of the school year, when in-person instructional hours are reported.
Under the overall plan, Milwaukee will get $225.2 million of the pot of $686.1 million.
The other biggest beneficiaries are: Racine, $23.6 million; Kenosha, $20 million; Green Bay, $19.9 million; and Madison, $18.9 million.
Of those, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine have been providing virtual instruction and are making moves to have in-person learning in the coming months. Kenosha began the year with in-person instruction, but went virtual in November amid an outbreak of cases. The district late last month began moving back to in-person classes.
Gov. Tony Evers has the power to line-item veto the plan. But the GOP-controlled committee would have the votes to override such a move.
See the GOP motion here.
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JFC Approves Motion to Use ESSER II Minimum Aid to Incentivize In-Person Instruction
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 10, 2021
From WisPolitics.com . . .
The Joint Finance Committee voted along party lines today to use more than $65 million in federal COVID funds to reward districts that have been offering in-person instruction and encourage others to get kids back in the classroom.
But the plan wouldn’t impact the $617.5 million that schools will receive based on a formula that takes into account the number of low-income students residing in each district.
What’s more, many of the largest districts that have been offering virtual-only instruction so far this school year won’t lose out on money under the GOP plan vs. the one originally proposed by the Department of Public Instruction.
Madison, Milwaukee and Racine, for example, have yet to offer in-person instruction this school year, though they are taking steps toward that. While none would lose money under the GOP plan compared to what DPI suggested, they could earn additional funding by getting kids into the classroom.
Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, knocked the proposal, saying Republicans were putting a perverse incentive before districts to get kids into classrooms regardless of spikes in COVID cases in their communities. He also noted Republicans just voted to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ public health declaration in an attempt to end his mask mandate, suggesting the GOP wasn’t taking the pandemic seriously.
“You’re making a political point showing how tough you are by wanting everything to go back in person,” Goyke said.
Co-chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, countered it was about rewarding districts that have incurred costs for in-person instruction such as cleaning and safety precautions that others haven’t had while virtual. He added offering in-person instruction is the right thing for kids.
“We know it’s good for our kids. It’s the right thing to do, I believe,” Marklein said. “It also provides an incentive to those schools that are not open to open to in-person instruction.”
The stimulus bill former President Trump signed in late December included $686.1 million for Wisconsin elementary and secondary schools. Of that, $617.5 million must be distributed to districts and independent charter schools based on a formula that accounts for the number of low-income students residing in each district, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The money can cover costs between March 30, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2023, for things like responding to the pandemic, training and professional development related to sanitation and preventing infection diseases, purchasing equipment, and providing mental health services.
Of the remaining $68.6 million, DPI had called for using $1.2 million for administrative costs. The agency wanted to use the rest of the money to establish minimum grants of $100,000 per district and charter school with an additional minimum of $395 per pupil. That would’ve impacted 172 districts. But dozens weren’t in line to receive money from that pot of funds, including many of the state’s largest districts.
Under the GOP motion that was approved 11-4, DPI’s administrative costs were cut to $700,000. The remaining $65.5 million will be divided up based on a formula that accounts for the hours of in-person instruction in the 2020-21 school year. The amount of the grants wouldn’t be known until the end of the school year, when in-person instructional hours are reported.
Under the plan, Milwaukee will get $225.2 million of the overall pot of $686.1 million with the opportunity to earn more for in-person instruction.
The other biggest beneficiaries are: Racine, $23.6 million; Kenosha, $20 million; Green Bay, $19.9 million; and Madison, $18.9 million.
Of those, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine have been providing virtual instruction and are making moves to have in-person learning in the coming months. Kenosha began the year in-person instruction, but went virtual in November amid an outbreak of cases. The district late last month began moving back to in-person classes.
See GOP JFC Motion here.
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