Joint Finance Committee Votes for Education
The Joint Finance Committee's action on the state budget is a victory
for Wisconsin’s technical colleges and the thousands of people
who depend on the schools for job training and advancement, WEAC President
Stan Johnson said Thursday (March 7, 2002).
| WEAC member honored
at State of State speech
A WEAC member was honored as a “true pioneer” during
Governor McCallum's State of the State speech Tuesday (March 5,
2002). Madison teacher Tenia Jenkins was one of several
members of the audience introduced by the governor during his
statewide address. McCallum said his goal is to make Wisconsin schools
the best in the world: “We will get there because of the best teachers
in the world. Teachers like Tenia Jenkins, whose dedication and
professionalism exemplify our teachers and staff throughout Wisconsin’s
schools. Tenia has been a teacher for 30 years, the last 20 at
the Malcolm Shabazz Alternative High School in Madison. Tenia
embodies the Wisconsin spirit... she is a true pioneer. She taught
the first African-American history and women’s classes in
Madison’s traditional high schools and continues to be a
well-known advocate for young people and a mentor to parents.” |
On Wednesday (March 6), the committee approved a budget adjustment
plan that preserves funding for the state’s technical colleges.
The Joint Finance Committee plan also preserves funding for K-12 public
schools and restores funding for the Youth Challenge Academy, a residential
program for high school dropouts. Teachers at the academy are members
of WEAC Council #1.
“Technical colleges are an integral part of Wisconsin’s education
system,” Johnson said. “They play a pivotal role in Wisconsin’s
economy, providing a great return on taxpayers’ investment. They
provide classrooms that work for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin
residents seeking education and training for new jobs, or re-training
for career advancement.”
“Even in grim economic times, we cannot ignore the need to ensure
that every kid attends a great school,” Johnson said.
He said the quick action by the committee is especially important to
school districts faced with uncertainty over the future of their state
aid payments. The state is required to announce on March 15 whether
school districts will receive their anticipated aid payments on time
in June. If the budget is not passed by March 15 and the state notifies
school districts that their aid payments are in jeopardy, they may be
forced to lay off teachers and staff or make other severe cuts to education.
Johnson said the education community should applaud the leadership
of Rep. John Gard and Sen. Kevin Shibilski and others who voted for
the plan.
“They stepped forward and did what’s right for Wisconsin,”
Johnson said. “The Joint Finance Committee plan strengthens the
long-term growth of Wisconsin's economy by investing in great schools.”
Johnson called on the rest of the Legislature to act on the budget
as quickly as possible.
The Legislature is reworking Governor McCallum's plan for addressing
the state's projected $1.1 billion deficit. The measure now goes to
the State Assembly. When the Assembly completes its work, it will send
it to the Senate. Ultimately, the two houses must agree on a single
measure to send back to the governor, who can sign it or veto it in
full or in part. Typically, the two houses form a conference committee
to iron out differences before giving the measure final legislative
approval.
Johnson urged members to use the OnWEAC Cyberlobby in the Members
Only section to keep pressure on legislators to protect education
funding at every level.
Resource page on the 2002 state budget crisis
Posted March 7, 2002; Updated March 8, 2002