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Initiative spurs new coalitions on behalf of the kids
Everyone has an interest in the success of our schools, and that is why the WEAC Great Schools project reaches out to virtually every person and every group in developing strategies for maintaining and improving upon quality education.
“We can’t do it alone. We would not want to do it alone,” said WEAC Executive Director Michael Butera. “Great Schools is built on the premise that we need to collaborate and work together to make sure we are meeting the needs of our children in every community.”
For that reason, the implementation of Great Schools has rejuvenated WEAC’s commitment to coalition-building. WEAC leaders are communicating with and working with representatives of a wide variety of groups to ensure a broad base of success for Great Schools.
WEAC is working with such organizations as the Wisconsin PTA and the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future, a Milwaukee-based policy research and community education center. Among many other things, IWF has been involved in presenting community forums on the impact of school district revenue controls. Great Schools also is working with the Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers, and the Citizens Action Coalition.
One of the more surprising partners is the Wisconsin Realtors Association, which formed an alliance with WEAC and the WFT in sponsoring March’s highly successful conference on the SAGE class-size reduction program, a conference closely affiliated with Great Schools.
Why would the Realtors join with WEAC and WFT?
“Our partnership brings to light the clear-cut link between education and real estate,” said WRA President William Berland. “The quality of schools directly impacts the vitality and viability of neighborhoods. Selling homes means selling good schools.”
Michael Theo, WRA vice president of public affairs, said Wisconsin’s real estate community has a direct interest in making sure the state’s schools maintain their high level of quality. The question is not why have WEAC and WRA come together to promote Great Schools. “The real question,” he said, “is why it’s taken us so long to join forces.”
Berland said he expects the WRA-WEAC partnership to extend well beyond the SAGE conference.
Finding common ground with groups such as the WRA is an important element of the success of Great Schools, Butera said.
“Great Schools benefit everyone in a community,” he said.
Posted April 11, 2000