Wisconsin Schools in Danger, Johnson Warns

WEAC President Stan Johnson (left) discusses education issues at a news conference opening the 2001 WEAC Convention. He is joined by Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Bob Lehmann (center) and WEAC Executive Director Michael A. Butera.

Wisconsin's great schools are in danger as the result of laws that severely restrict school district spending and prevent teachers from receiving fair pay raises, WEAC President Stan Johnson said Wednesday (October 24, 2001) in opening the 2001 WEAC Convention in Milwaukee.

Johnson joined Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Bob Lehmann and WEAC Executive Director Michael A. Butera in a news conference focusing on some of the key issues that threaten the continued success of Wisconsin schools. About 10,000 educators from throughout the state are in Milwaukee for the 2?-day convention, which includes more than 100 professional development workshops.

"Revenue controls are slowly starving our schools of the resources they need to ensure that every kid attends a great school," Johnson said. "Research has established the fact that districts throughout Wisconsin are cutting programs and services . and they are running out of cuts that will not directly harm the quality of education in our schools."

Wisconsin school districts have been under state-imposed revenue controls since 1993, when the state began funding two-thirds of school costs.

Johnson also said another element of that 1993 law changed the collective bargaining law for teachers in a way that severely restricts their ability to negotiate fair pay increases. The change is often referred to as the Qualified Economic Offer law, or the QEO.

"The elimination of genuine collective bargaining has resulted in school staff compensation losing ground to the rate of inflation, and some (teachers and staff) are even beginning to see actual reductions in their paychecks," he said.

Lehmann said that since the start of the school year, 150 teachers have left Milwaukee Public Schools, and 75% of them have seven or fewer years of service. One of the top reasons they gave for leaving was to undertake "other work," he said.

Lehmann said it is a lie to suggest that the QEO provides 3.8% increases for teachers. After paying for large health insurance increases and funding pay adjustments for experience and education credits, there is only enough money left under the QEO to provide pay increases of 1% or less for many teachers, he said. And some are even taking pay cuts.

"Something must be done," he said.

Butera said Wisconsin students are still scoring among the best in the nation on standardized tests. However, he said, the long-term impact of revenue controls and the QEO law – lack of up-to-date books and technology for children, inadequate professional development opportunities for staff, and the loss of quality teachers – will show up in future years and be very difficult and costly to overcome.

"Now is the time to correct it," he said.

Johnson said Wisconsin has a long history of supporting great schools.

"Our society has benefited from these great schools," he said. "However, our investment in great schools will be lost if circumstances are not changed."

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Posted October 24, 2001