35 local principals sign letter to Gov. Walker, legislature over less funding, local control
I know a few superintendents --red areas who loved Walker when he based the unions. Now both of them are crying about loss of funds etc etc.
35 local principals sign letter to Gov. Walker, legislature over less funding, local control
http://www.lakecountrynow.com/news/lakecountryreporter/principals-lament-decreased-education-funding-less-local-control-b99543098z1-320293961.html
By Bob Dohr
July 31, 2015
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Nearly three dozen southern Wisconsin high school principals have taken pen to paper to convey a message to Madison that they're not happy with decisions being made that are affecting public education, including reduced state funding of schools and a decrease in local control.
A total of 35 high school principals signed the July 13 letter to Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature lamenting the "reduced power of local school boards" and a "competitive business model" they say results in the "haves and the have-nots" among the state's school districts.
"Since the onset of revenue limits in 1992, our school districts have been reducing and eliminating programs and resources," the letter states. "We are burdened by the cumulative effects of budget cuts resulting in increased class sizes, cut programs and deferred maintenance plans."
Jefferson High School principal Mark Rollefson, who spearheaded the letter-writing effort, said one reason for the principals to collaborate on a message was that most people in local communities know their principals and likely trust them.
"High school principals attend a lot of musicals, FFA events, community functions, athletic events, concerts, PT conferences, graduation and much more," Rollefson said. "As such, the community can relate to us. A letter to the Wisconsin governor and copied to legislators signed by 35 area principals may catch Madison's attention."
Letter-signer Gregg Wieczorek, principal at Arrowhead High School, hopes so. He said principals are the ones who have their finger on the pulse of local education.
"They have cross integration of parents, teachers, students — they kind of get the whole thing," Wieczorek said. "Yet they're not consulted. They're not involved in the decision making or even the advising stage."
Rollefson said the same goes for local school boards whose hands are "hogtied" because of so many mandates preventing local officials from making decisions.
"The federal and state governments control curriculum, testing, funding, calendar, certification and more," Rollefson said. "Is it not time to trust the people to make decisions rather than Big Government? Is this not why we have a school board?"......
http://www.lakecountrynow.com/news/lakecountryreporter/principals-lament-decreased-education-funding-less-local-control-b99543098z1-320293961.html
Republican presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker speaks at a fundraising event for Rep. Pat Grassley at the PIPAC Centre on the Lake in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Principals in southeastern Wisconsin are calling on Walker and the state legislature to increase school funding and local control. Photo By Matthew Putney / The Courier
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