Baumgart Sees Impact of Revenue Caps in New Holstein and Plymouth

In a visit to New Holstein and Plymouth schools, Senator James Baumgart saw firsthand how state-imposed revenue caps are harming schools. The senator criticized the revenue caps and vowed to support a better system of funding education.

Sen. Baumgart (left), teacher Jim Flora, and Principal Paul Keats examine a bucket that catches water from the leaking roof in the New Holstein High School cafeteria.

"The enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these wonderful schools was heartwarming," said the Sheboygan Democrat. "There is no doubt in my mind that all of those kids deserve a great staff in a great school. Unfortunately, the revenue caps and the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer law) are making it very difficult to attract and retain the best possible staff and do everything else that schools must do."

While in New Holstein, Baumgart visited a kindergarten room that was very small, and housed two classes in the same room at the same time.

"We don't have a lot of room to move around and do separate things, so if one class is working on a project, both classes end up working together," said teacher Holly Meerdink. "There is no real space for quiet time."

Baumgart stopped in the reading specialists' room, where two teachers shared a room that once was a small teachers' lounge.

"It's a very small room, and it's hard to do our job here because part of learning is being able to hear what you are saying and practice saying it," said teacher JulieAnn Jarentowski. "But with it being so small, you can hear everyone else talking, but you can't hear yourself."

"I wish I could give you more room; you seem to need more space to do your job properly," Baumgart said.

Sen. Baumgart reads to Aileen Koenigs' 1st-grade class at New Holstein Elementary School.

At New Holstein High School, Baumgart toured the library. He saw the holes in the ceiling that resulted when ceiling tiles had to be removed after they became soggy and moldy. When it rains, employees place buckets on the floors of the library, as well as other classrooms, to catch leaking water.

"The students created a 'Wishing Well' to try to put a positive note on the situation and try to help in any way they could," teacher Jim Flora said.

While at Plymouth High School later in the day, Baumgart engaged in a roundtable discussion with teacher Brad Vollbrecht, principal Steve Pophal, superintendent Clark Reinke, and Kettle Moraine UniServ Council Director Jim Carlson about the challenges of recruiting and retaining high-quality staff.

"I have to do the hiring here, and if I try to do one thing well it is placing good teachers in classrooms with kids," Pophal said. Unfortunately, he said, it is getting harder and harder to find quality people.

"We currently have several teaching positions open," Pophal said. "We have not received nearly enough applications, and many of those who have applied are not certified to teach the subject areas of the positions for which they are applying."

Sen. Baumgart speaks to Jim Flora's honors government class at New Holstein High School

"My ability to deliver on having good teachers in classrooms and to keep the teachers we have is dependent on the opportunities that we can offer our educators," Pophal continued. "How well the classroom scores turn out is dependent on the success of our teachers."

"Competition is tougher now to get young people to want to go into education," Carlson said. "Students these days shop around and really take into consideration how much money they are making and if they can make a living in the profession."

"I agree, kids these days really are much smarter consumers than we ever were," Baumgart said. "We need so many teachers now that they can shop around before they take a position. It's not going to be a slam dunk, but we need to start setting up some good teaching models and be able to hire and keep quality teachers."

While at Horizon Elementary in Plymouth, Baumgart said, "The salaries haven't kept up with inflation, (and) schools haven't been kept up because funds are being cut." And one of the most important issues, he said, is that educators are not getting the respect they deserve. "That's very sad," he said.

"We have the ability to make a difference, but the real question is whether we have the ability to do what's right. I am committed to doing what's right," Baumgart said.

Resource page on school district revenue controls
Resource page on the Qualified Economic Offer law