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Gov. Scott McCallum plans to veto a budget provision that cuts funding for 4-year-old kindergarten programs. The action will restore $14 million in state funding to 4-year-old kindergarten.
"The governor's action on this issue is a victory for Wisconsin's youngest learners," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "Four-year-old kindergarten gives children every opportunity to reach their full potential and be successful later in life."
Milwaukee Public Schools have the most children enrolled in 4-year-old kindergarten programs in Wisconsin. Without the governor's veto, MPS would have lost $6 million a year.
Sheboygan and Wauwatosa have the second and third-largest 4-year-old kindergarten programs. Wauwatosa would have lost $1 million a year under the Legislature's budget.
McCallum will announce his vetoes to the 2001-03 spending plan on Thursday,
Aug. 30, when he is required to sign the 2001-03 budget bill into law.
Members of the Legislature expressed mixed opinions of the governor's decisionon 4-year-old kindergarten. Rep. Glenn Grothman of West Bend said that the veto lowered his opinion of the governor. Sen. Peggy Rosenzweig of Wauwatosa was delighted that the programs would be preserved in the 2001-03 budget.
The Legislature passed its version of the 2001-03 State Budget on July 26.
The Assembly voted 73-22 in favor of the $47 billion budget. The Senate voted 25-8 on the bill. The budget is waiting for Gov. McCallum's signature.
WEAC members have been contacting the governor all month by phone and email about key education issues in the budget.
"WEAC members have had a tremendous impact on the budget process so far," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "We must call upon the governor to ensure that great schools remain a priority as he makes final budget decisions."
The budget contains items that will help maintain great schools for
Wisconsin's students. It calls for full funding of the SAGE class-size
reduction program, provides revenue cap flexibility and maintains the
commitment to fund two-thirds of school operation costs.
"We have successfully defeated a number of items that attacked the ability to maintain great staff in our schools," Johnson said. "Educators have preserved some of their collective bargaining rights."
The Legislature rejected an Assembly provision that allowed school
districts to unilaterally select health insurance carriers for employees.
It also allows educators to bargain the establishment of the school
calendar and maintains the right to collect member dues for the purpose
of political action.
Other budget provisions deny students the opportunity for quality
education.
The committee approved a charter school in Racine sponsored by UW-Parkside.
It's uncertain if employees of the new school will have collective bargaining
rights.
Gov. McCallum is still considering veto action on the budget. Send him an e-mail to urge him to make great schools a priority as he makes these final considerations.
Posted July 26, 2001; Updated August 28, 2001