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SUDER: SCHOOL OFFICIALS TAKING "SHOTS" AT REPUBLICANS
Tuesday, November 1st, 2005 -- 12:11 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
An area representative says local school leaders should stop “taking shots” at Republicans, and sit down to discuss funding problems.
Last week, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance released a report that shows over a quarter of the state’s 426 school districts are using their fund balances to make ends meet. The report listed some ideas that may help, such as easing the revenue-limit law for declining enrollment districts, increasing transportation aid to sparsely populated districts, and allowing more flexibility and incentive for schools to share services.
In response to the report, Granton Superintendent Jerry Nelson told us last week that he didn’t think Republicans were “geared at making a real true effort to resolve educational problems in our state”.
Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) said he supports a number of the WTA ideas, but wants cooperation from school officials.
"The School Board Association and School Administrators Alliance also has to work with us," Suder says. "They do a great job of putting out press releases and blasting Republicans, but I've yet to see anyone from (those groups) in my office this session."
"Mr. Nelson has never contacted my office on these issues. It has to work both ways. You can't just take political shots at Republicans without being willing to come to the table," Suder says.
Suder says funding changes must happen “piece meal”, adding it's not feasible to expect revenue caps to be completely dropped.
"It's just simply not realistic either financially or politically," Suder says.
"I've always said to any educator I've spoken with, I'm willing to sit down and even draft legislation, but they have to be willing to explain the problem and be able and willing to come to the table and draft that legislation."
Suder made his comments on our Viewpoint program Tuesday morning.
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