Simply amazing! My mouth literally dropped open, when I heard today, what Governor Scott Walker has planned for Wisconsin's Public Schools.
Especially for what he has planned for Math and Science courses ...
Scott Walker's War on Equality
Howard Schweber, Associate Professor of Political Science and Law, University of Wisconsin-Madison
huffingtonpost -- March 2, 2011
The poorer districts in Wisconsin are already operating on a shoestring. But despite all its defects, it remains the case that in America, and specifically in Wisconsin, publicly funded education is a powerful equalizing force, almost the only one left.
Scott Walker's budget seeks to change all that. The budget that Walker unveiled on March 1st contains cuts to education that will devastate Wisconsin's traditionally fine system of public schools, including specific provisions that end state funding for Advanced Placement courses and "science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs," among many other things. [...]
What is even more disturbing is this: Walker's budged mandates a 5.5% cut in per-pupil local education spending, approximately $550 per pupil. This has absolutely nothing to do with balancing the state budget: it doesn't save the state a dime. This rule specifies that overall education spending must decline regardless of the wishes of the residents of a local district.
Incredible. No Books for you!
Never mind what local communities, might think or want.
Sounds Austere, alright!
Sometimes you just got to read the fine print.
Walker's got his line-item Budget-veto-pen at the ready ...
Scott Walker's BUDGET IN BRIEF
STATE OF WISCONSIN
BUDGET IN BRIEF
SCOTT WALKER, GOVERNOR
MARCH 2011
DIVISION OF EXECUTIVE BUDGET
[pg 15]
II. SUMMARY OF GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INITIATIVES
A. EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Elementary and Secondary Education
-- Reduce equalization aid by $749.4 million over the biennium to help address the state budget deficit. To protect property taxpayers, reduce school district revenue limits per pupil by 5.5 percent below the amounts authorized in fiscal year 2010-11 and maintain those same amounts over the biennium.
[...]
[pg 16]
-- To help address the state's budget deficit,
repeal GPR-funded [General Purpose Revenue: pg 33] categorical aid programs for advanced placement;
alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and intervention;
alternative education;
children-at-risk;
English for Southeast Asian children;
improving pupil academic achievement;
nursing services;
preschool to grade 5 programs;
science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs;
and supplemental aid.
Lest Wisconsin's University population feel left out of Scott's shared sacrificing -- the Guv has some 'Educational Austerity' in store for them too.
Higher Education
-- Reduce state aid by $250 million over the biennium to University of Wisconsin System institutions and University of Wisconsin-Madison to help address the state budget deficit. The reduction would be split equally between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin System
[...]
-- Provide a modest tuition increase for University of Wisconsin System institutions to keep resident undergraduate tuition affordable without sacrificing quality.
Ed Schultz said today, that Walker's 'tuition increase' would amount to a 15% annual increase for Wisconsin's College Students, trying to make their way in the world.
Nice -- NOT really!
Yet there are some interests THAT Walker is still looking out for ... anyone care to guess WHO THEY might be?
[pg 28]
G. REVENUE AND GENERAL FUND TAXES
-- Create a 100 percent exclusion from capital gains taxation for investors who invest in Wisconsin-based business and hold those investments for five or more years.
-- Expand the capital gains tax deferral for investments in qualified new business ventures to include all Wisconsin-based businesses to encourage investors to reinvest investment earnings in Wisconsin.
[...]
-- Allow businesses to reduce their tax burdens by allowing broader use of losses incurred prior to the passage of combined reporting, and increase the period that those corporations can carryforward losses from 15 years to 20 years. Businesses will realize tax savings of $9.2 million in fiscal year 2011-12 and $37.2 million in fiscal year 2012-13.
... and tucked away in the some more of Walker's fine print in this just released Budget Brief -- is the stated goal to promote Private Schooling options -- at the expense of the Public Schools we have to assume, given all the other Education cuts:
[pg 9]
The budget expands the Milwaukee private school choice and independent charter school programs in support of improved educational outcomes for all Wisconsin students. The cap on the number of participants in the Milwaukee private school choice program is repealed and the income eligibility limits phased out to allow greater participation in this important program.
Randi Rhodes said today on her radio show that the repeal of that "cap" -- amounts to a redistribution of public education funds to the Wealthy, and effectively encourages and subsidizes them to choose Private Schools over Public.
Simply amazing!
The common denominator of most working class Americans -- a decent Public Education --
is about to become all that less common -- in Wisconsin anyways,
If Walker gets his way ...
If Walker wins his War against Science and -- his War on Public Schools --
and all they represent, to average hard-working Americans.