Earlier this year, the Wisconsin legislature passed the Budget Repair Act, a
bill that, among other things, limits the collective bargaining rights of
Wisconsin teachers. In the most contentious battle regarding public sector
unions the state has ever seen, hundreds of thousands of people descended upon
the statehouse to protest the actions of the Republican legislature, claiming
that the bill would increase teacher layoffs, raise class sizes, and reduce
course selections. A number of teachers called in sick to their schools and
went to the protests. Doctors who supported the protesters were seen on video handing out notes
for anyone who wanted to skip class and remain. These doctors will learn their
fate today
when the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board rules on the legality of their
actions.
The debate was so contentious that 14 Democratic state senators in Wisconsin
fled south across the border to Illinois to ensure that a quorum could not be
reached and the bill could not be voted on. They claimed that they were
standing up for the rights of teachers and against the harsh nature of the
proposal from Governor Walker. After weeks of stonewalling, the Democrats did
return and the bill narrowly passed. After a protracted legal battle regarding
the legislative process, the bill went into effect and has been a part of the
budgeting process in local school districts. And this week, a report
released by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators
demonstrates that the law is working. The following data comes from 83% of
local school districts within the state of Wisconsin:
Myth: Wisconsin students are seeing large class sizes Fact: 75 percent of districts that responded to the survey have the same K-3 class
sizes or are decreasing them and 67 percent of districts for grades 4-6 are keeping the same class size or decreasing
them
Myth: Wisconsin students will have fewer course choices this school year Fact: Over 90 percent of school districts have the same number of or increased the
number of AP courses, vocation/technical courses, art courses, music,
family/consumer ed. courses, physical education courses, business courses,
social studies courses, science courses, math courses, English courses, and
foreign language courses
Myth: There have been massive staff layoffs in school districts all across
Wisconsin Fact: Nearly at least 75 percent (see report for breakdown by subject area) of school
districts have the same number of or increased the number of staff, counselors,
and teachers.
In addition, the Department of Public Instruction released a report
regarding the tax levy for Wisconsin school districts:
Today, the 2011-2012 K-12 school tax levy numbers were released for the state
of Wisconsin. The total K-12 tax levy decreased by over $47 million
this year. Over the last ten years the tax levy, on average, increased by $162
million each year. Over the last five years the tax levy, on average, increased
by $181 million each year.
When compared to the status quo of the last five years, Governor Walker’s
reforms are keeping an extra $228 million in Wisconsin property taxpayer’s
pockets. In total, 269 school districts have a property tax levy lower or the
same as last year and 200 school districts not only lowered their levy, but cut
their mill rate.
Finally, the MacIver Institute, a free market think tank in Wisconsin released
the following video detailing the positive effects that local districts are
seeing as a result of the bill.
The Illinois legislature faces a number of difficult choices regarding the
future of the state’s education system. Chief among those concerns though must
be reforming the pension system before the state allocates more public dollars
to retirement costs than schools. While those who support the status quo seem
to have the upper hand, politicians from both parties should take a lesson from
Governor Walker and the Wisconsin legislature, offering a bold and courageous
plan to put students and taxpayers first.
