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Good morning, and welcome members, guests, and friends. I'd like to give a special welcome to all of our new members this year - especially the Milwaukee Educational Assistants' Association.
WEAC has been holding this convention for decades; providing professional development opportunities for our members; making sure that public schools work for Wisconsin.
Two years ago as we held this Convention here in Milwaukee, I began my address with the words "Number one and getting better." We are still number one! We continue to lead the entire United States in ACT test scores. Not only were we alone in first place this year, but Wisconsin students had their highest scores ever. In fact, in some test results, if Wisconsin were a country, we would have been one of the top three in the world.
The results of the ACT scores are especially significant because this year's scores represent the largest number of students participating in history. We can say, once again, we are number one. Those of you in this room, the members of this organization should take a bow. I applaud your efforts and your successes. Public schools do indeed work in Wisconsin - because of you - the teachers and support staff.
We are still number one. But, are we still getting better? Yes, of course we are. In December, the state will release model academic standards. WEAC has for a long time supported high academic standards. Indeed, it was this organization that in 1973 won legislative approval for Wisconsin's original educational standards.
We are raising expectations for students and teachers through tougher academic standards. Setting standards is easy work -- meeting the standards is hard work and that's what we, the members of this organization, will be asked to do. If standards are to be met; parents, educators, school boards, politicians, and the broad based community must find common ground and work for what is important for our children. I agree with the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Average just isn't good enough when it comes to Wisconsin's children, but our public school system isn't average, it is excellent. However, the state is raising expectations at the same time it imposes laws that prevent us from meeting those expectations - revenue caps and the QEO. Will there be money to repair our schools in which these standards are to be met? Who will buy the computers? Will class size ever be based on research versus political whim? When will the school boards put aside politics long enough to make sound educational decisions? Wisconsin cannot continue to have a world class public education system without sufficient funding.
Public schools in Wisconsin are saddled with oppressive revenue controls, controls which are destroying our children's future. According to a recent survey of school district administrators, over 50 percent reported delaying building maintenance and improvement. Over 50 percent reported delaying the purchase of new technology, and nearly 50 percent reported delaying the hiring of new staff or, in many cases, reported the reduction of staff. In fact, over 35 percent reported increases in class size. Almost all reported increased teacher workloads, limited summer school programs, and cuts in programs for gifted and talented students.
But none of those statistics surprises any one in this room. Last June, thousands of educators went to Madison to show their support for public education and to tell legislators the effect that revenue controls were having on them, their students, and their schools. Teachers told of cracked asbestos tiles in kindergarten classrooms that could not be replaced because a building referendum had been defeated. Teachers told of running out of classroom paper and overheads in April. Teachers told of outdated computer equipment from the 70's. Teachers told of ESL students who flourished when support staff was available and fell behind when that support was cut. Did you know, teachers in Wisconsin, on average, spend over $340 annually of their own money on supplies for their classroom? Of course you do!
Last week there was an article in the Journal/Sentinel reporting that 1 in 4 students fell below a basic level in lab science. What the article did not mention at all was that already in 1994, shortly after revenue controls were put into effect, over 35% of Wisconsin schools reported inadequate science lab facilities. I'm a science teacher. I can tell you -- it is very difficult to teach lab science without a lab. Citizens of Wisconsin must realize that children will not receive a world class education without adequate facilities and resources.
This situation will continue to get worse. The needs of our children are not measured by inflation. Kids are not numbers. Nothing less than the survival of Wisconsin's high quality, world class education system is at stake. The fight for resources will not end. WEAC has been on the front lines fighting for quality public education in Wisconsin and will continue to do so. During the recent budget battle it was interesting to note that the Wisconsin Association of School Boards was nowhere to be found in fighting for modifications to revenue controls, or for improvements in the SAGE or P-5 class size reduction programs. Where were they? They were too busy fighting against the minuscule change proposed in the Qualified Economic Offer and fighting for a proposal to make the school calendar a permissive subject of bargaining. I call upon - no let me restate that - I demand that the Wisconsin Association of School Boards stand up for children; stand up for the mission of public education; and end its petty, destructive battle against school employees. I call on the WASB to stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, in the fight for the rights of Wisconsin's children; join with us in the fight for Wisconsin's model academic standards; and join with us in the fight for fair and adequate funding to meet these goals. The citizens of Wisconsin need to elect local school board members who are concerned with providing quality public education. It's time for local school boards to wake up to what their statewide association is doing to their schools and to their children. It's time to challenge them to make their state association's priorities public education and children. I ask you to take this message back to your local School Boards -- They need to get their priorities straight. Tell them - Be for kids -- not against teachers.
Public education and children did have some successes in the recently passed state budget. The SAGE program received increased funding to reduce class sizes and the TEACH program promises to provide improved technology for our schools. However, the Legislature really sends a conflicting message to educators and taxpayers. They pass these specific programs which allow reduced class size and technology in certain schools. BUT, they continue revenue controls which prevent all schools from lowering class sizes and improving technology. The legislature needs to get its priorities straight - kids come first.
Why is there a constant barrage of criticism from far right politicians, talk show hosts and certain businesses and business organizations? I suggest to you that it's a diversion -- a number of diversions. First, it's an attempt to hide the real reason that property taxes dramatically increased during the 1980's. It wasn't because of school costs. It was because business stopped paying their fair share of taxes and, as a result, homeowners were forced to carry more of the tax burden. Since 1970, the percent of all property taxes paid by the manufacturing sector in Wisconsin has dropped from 17 percent to 5 percent. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Area Chamber of Commerce, in its 1996 Business Guide, proclaimed that "Business taxes in Wisconsin are now the fourth lowest in the nation." The real reason residential property taxes in Wisconsin are so high is because business taxes are so low. Second, it's an attempt to cover up the financial impact of private school vouchers which will redirect funds from public schools to religious institutions. Finally, it's an attempt to divert attention from the skyrocketing costs of our prison system. From 1991 to 1999, the number of prisoners in Wisconsin is projected to increase from 7,000 to 17,000. The cost of housing those prisoners will balloon from $232 million to over $700 million. The citizens and politicians of the state of Wisconsin must decide that public education is our number one priority.
At the heart of public education are teachers and support staff. Public schools work for Wisconsin because of our excellent educators. Unfortunately, teachers throughout the state are frustrated by the QEO and that frustration is growing.
As a result of the QEO, 20 years of labor peace has come to an end. Over two-thirds of our locals do not have settled contracts - that's nearly 300 unsigned collective bargaining agreements - with little hope of settlement in the future and no process in place to resolve these disputes peacefully. Job actions and talk of strikes are now frequent in Wisconsin schools. Madison teachers staged a one day sick-out and are still under court order. New Berlin teachers work to the clock. Racine teachers boycotted open houses. Waupaca and Germantown worked to the contract. Northland Pines, Stanley-Boyd, Janesville, Omro - the list goes on and on as the frustration and anger grows. However, no teacher wants to engage in job actions. Arbitration was always the light at the end of the tunnel when agreement could not be reached. In 1993, that light was turned out.
The QEO applies only to K-12 teachers. Fact -- 70% of K-12 teachers are female. Fact -- Teachers' salaries increased at 2.0% per year while district administrators' salaries increased 4.5%. Fact --90% of district administrators are male. The QEO isn't a glass ceiling, it's a brick wall. If Wisconsin is to continue to be number one in public education, teachers must be allowed a non-confrontational process to use to settle contracts.
A bill to restore binding arbitration by repealing the QEO has been introduced in the Legislature this session. The QEO must go!
Finally, I would like to stress the importance of politics. Wisconsin's public education system has become increasingly politicized over the past few years. It is important that every education employee in Wisconsin participate in the political process. WEAC will continue to review candidates and to provide information on the educational positions of those candidates, but you, the members, will decide, as you always have, where to spend your vote. Be informed, be involved.
You have an opportunity to become involved today. In the WEAC area of the exhibits, we have set up a cyberlobby. We have computers all ready for you to e-mail messages to your legislators and the governor. I urge you to take this opportunity to let your legislators know the impact revenue controls and the QEO are having on you and your students. Our children don't have a vote. Our students don't lobby. We must do it for them. Before you leave this convention, take the time to send your legislators and the governor a message. Share your personal experience with them.
Tell them that programs are being cut.
Tell them that class sizes are increasing.
Tell them that your salaries are falling behind inflation.
Tell them your stories.
Tell them that Wisconsin's public schools are still number one and working.
And finally, tell them to make public education their number one priority!
Thank you very much and have a good convention.
Posted October 30, 1997