Members speak out on impact of revenue caps

'Ripping the community apart'

School district revenue caps are "ripping the community apart" in Merrill, a community where the angst over school funding is representative of what is happening in school districts large and small throughout Wisconsin.

On February 21, 2008, Merrill citizens rejected a $2.9 million referendum, and school administrators say that means the district will have to reduce or cut 12 positions - vital positions that directly impact the education of children.

"Ultimately the kids are the ones who are suffering," said Janeen LaBorde, a Merrill science teacher.

LaBorde was one of several WEAC members who took time out at the WEAC Winter Conference February 22-24 in Appleton to talk about how state-imposed revenue caps undermine the quality of education that children are receiving. Larger class sizes, in particular, are making it difficult for teachers to meet the individualized needs of the children in their classroom, they said.

Click on the videos below to hear from the people who are directly experiencing the devastating impact of revenue caps and who know firsthand the harm that the caps are causing to education, to children and to the future of Wisconsin.

View videos

Posted February 25, 2008