Doyle comes to the rescue for great schools, Wisconsin's future

WEAC President Stan Johnson issued the following statement after Governor Jim Doyle vetoed five anti-education bills that had passed the Wisconsin Legislature:

"Senate Bill 68 would have undermined SAGE, the class size reduction program that has proven successful for our state's youngest learners. The bill would have let schools take SAGE funding without actually reducing class sizes.

"Assembly Bill 84 would have eliminated the 180-school-day requirement.

"Assembly Bill 730 would have allowed the establishment of new charter schools by a University of Wisconsin System unaccountable to any local, elected school board.

"Assembly Bill 1060 would have let taxpayer-funded virtual charter schools create lower standards for teachers and instructional staff than public schools.

"Assembly Bill 152 would have reduced the amount of money that counties provide to the Common School Fund from the collection of fines and forfeitures.

"We are certainly fortunate to live in a state where the governor is looking out for the best interests of school children and is forward-looking enough to understand that standing up for quality, standards and accountability now is a safeguard for the state's economic future.

"It is quite disheartening, however, to know that we live in a state where some legislators do not have the same inclination. Indeed, these five bills show that we have legislators who would prefer the opposite of great schools: taking class-size reduction out of class-size reduction programs; fewer school days and less learning; less accountability and lower standards for charter schools, teachers and staff; and less money for schools.

"This is the future our legislative majority leaders envision?"