Daily Archives: April 5, 2007

by | April 5, 2007 · 5:10 pm

School Funding Reform Press Conference April 19 at 10 a.m. in Assembly Parlor

Here’s the press release from WAES…Hope many AMPS members can attend this important event….

WAES and other school-funding reform advocates will be gathering at the State Capitol in Madison on Thursday, April 19, to support Senate Joint Resolution 27 and Assembly Joint Resolution 35 asking the Legislature to change Wisconsin’s school-funding system.

We need you to attend, if possible, and support these important resolutions. A press conference will begin at 10 a.m. in the Assembly Parlor. This would also be an excellent opportunity to set up meetings with your legislators or their aides and talk about school funding, the joint resolution, and reform. If you need help, let me know. It would be a good idea to visit the WAES website at http://www.excellentschools. org to study up on the resolution and its intent before you go .

If you plan to attend, please let Tom Beebe know using the contact info below so that all groups and organizations in attendance are recognized. Resolution sponsors Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts and Sen. Roger Breske are hosting the press conference.

—
Thomas S. Beebe
Institute for Wisconsin’s Future
1717 South 12thStreet
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Voice: 414-384-9094
Fax:414-384- 9098
Cell: 920-650-0525
E-mail:tbeebe@ wisconsinsfuture .org

http://www.excellentschools. org
http://www.wisconsinsfuture. org

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Filed under AMPS, Pope-Roberts/Breske Resolution, School Finance, Take Action, We Are Not Alone

by | April 5, 2007 · 3:03 pm

WSJ Article/Letters on School Funding Crisis–Get Involved in Sending a Statewide Message

Today’s WSJ has a spread on the damage Wisconsin’s state funding formula is having on public education, including bulleted message points. These are great talking points for letters to the editor, and even more importantly, letters to members of Joint Finance Committee.

The Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance is currently taking testimony statewide from residents on the proposed Governor’s budget and has vast power in changing the budget before the Legislature votes on it. Senators Mark Miller and Mark Pocan of Madison are currently on Joint Finance, but it would be powerful to submit your letters to all 16 members.

Want to send a letter to the editor? Here are the three papers in Madison:

wsjopine@madison.com (WSJ)
tctvoice@madison.com (Cap Times)
edit@isthmus.com

More information and other sample letters can be found here.

CHALLENGE: Can AMPS members send 50 letters to Joint Finance and the papers in the next week???

Beth Swedeen

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Filed under AMPS, Local News, School Finance, Take Action

by | April 5, 2007 · 1:02 am

We Are Not Alone #7

Part of series on school finance and referenda around Wisconsin.

Updates from the DPI on the April 3d referenda votes:

· Totals = 34 Passed, 36 Failed (no results from Thorp)
· Issue Debt (building and renovation) = 15 Passed, 16 Failed
· Non Recurring (operating and maintenance) = 14 Passed, 10 Failed
· Recurring (operating and maintenance) = 5 Passed, 10 Failed
· Largest Operating = $21,601,931 (Eau Claire Area) Failed (6,570 to 8,385)

There is already one new referendum on the ballot, the Menomonie Area Board moved fast when faced with unpalatable cuts and scheduled a referendum for May 15th.

Thomas J. Mertz

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Filed under AMPS, Elections, Referenda, School Finance, We Are Not Alone