Rural school administrators claim Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2015-17 biennial budget if passed as is could severely cripple their ability to educate children.
Walker’s two-year spending plan essentially calls for holding public schools’ funding flat. It also would eliminate a $150-per-student payment to schools in the first year of the budget and the cap on private voucher school enrollment.
A freeze on school revenue established in the 2013-15 budget would remain in force.
If the budget passes, Bonduel School District will lose $130,000 from the elimination of the $150-per-pupil aid, according to Superintendent Patrick Rau. The school revenue cap will cost the district an additional $130,000 to $150,000 next school year.
“With the cap being frozen, we don’t have the ability to make that up with the local property taxes,” Rau said.
Declining enrollment will also hurt Bonduel, as much of the state aid schools receive is based on the number of students. Rau said the district has 870 students this year but projects 830 to 835 next year.
“Since 2012, we’ve been experiencing a decrease at our elementary school,” Rau said. “There are just less students in the district to draw from.”
Bonduel is just starting to explore cost-cutting measures, Rau said. He and other officials will look at transportation, the school calendar and other options.
Rau met with parents at a community forum Tuesday night to discuss the budget challenges.
Gresham School District also expects severe cuts, according to Superintendent Keary Mattson, although officials don’t know how much those cuts will be.
“This is going to be the toughest hit we’ve taken, that all the schools have taken,” Mattson said. “I don’t know how we’re all going to overcome this yet.”
Preliminary estimates show the district will lose $45,000 in state aid if Walker’s proposed budget passes.
The district would have to come up with another $100,000 to cover school expenses, Mattson said.
“It’s a concern. It’s a tremendous concern,” Mattson said. “Generally, we get a little bit of an increase.”
Gresham Community School has 305 children in kindergarten through grade 12.
Shawano School District Superintendent Gary Cumberland was out of town for the past week and could not be reached for comment.
Categories
