MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is proposing $1.6 billion in new education spending in his 2021-23 budget proposal. According to his office, it would be the largest increase ever if it passes the Republican-controlled Legislature.
“All the money will help them recover from the pandemic, because they have incurred lots of cost because of the pandemic,” said Evers.
Republicans say education is a place for possible compromise with the governor.
But Appleton State Senator Roger Roth tells FOX 11 if Evers was serious about education, opening schools would have been part of his budget address on Tuesday.
“Not once did he mention opening up our schools. Even the CDC is now saying we’ve got to get our K-12 schools open.”
“First of all, they are headed back to the classroom in many places across the state,” said Evers. “That is interesting that they would make that observation, because I have said all along that it’s up to the local districts to figure out whether they can mitigate the factors of the coronavirus. The Republicans were very supportive of that position. I’m still staying at that position.”
Evers tells FOX 11 the return to school made mental health help a top priority in his budget.
“There is no question that this pandemic and the isolation that it caused for kids has been really significant. That money for mental health services will be of great help to our school districts.”
Wisconsin’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, a union for education professionals, is applauding Evers’ proposal.
“It’s been a hard year for students, teachers, and parents alike,” said AFT-Wisconsin Vice President for PK-12 Teachers Dina Brennan, a teacher at the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. “This budget gives us hope. Whether it’s a funding increase that promotes fairness for lower-income, often rural schools, or a special education reimbursement that cares for our most vulnerable students, we finally have a budget that reflects the progressive Wisconsin values AFT-Wisconsin members champion every day.”
Two years ago, Evers proposed a slightly smaller increase for education funding at $1.4 billion. It ended up being less than half that amount after the legislature trimmed it to $500 million. Evers’ vetoes boosted the final mark to $570 million.
Evers’ budget would put the state back to covering two-thirds of funding for public schools. Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson set that mark in 1997, but it was repealed by Democrat Jim Doyle during a budget shortfall.
