Category Archives: School Finance
Exactly — A Voucher Advocate Reveals What is Wrong with Vouchers
As the voucher movement in Wisconsin is poised to claim at least a partial victory, at an American Enterprise sessi0n ironically titled “School Voucher Programs and the Effects of a Little Healthy Competition” pro-voucher think tanker Grover Whitehurst inadvertently identified … Continue reading
Rep. Bernier Tries to Get Cute (and Fails).
Phony Democratic Primary Candidates are apparently only the beginning, the GOP has now moved on to insincere revenue legislation. First term Republican Representative Kathy Bernier is circulating phony legislation proposing an income tax check-off to fund shared revenue, medical assistance, … Continue reading
On the Agenda — MMSD Board of Education, the Week of May 23, 2011 (updated, finished)
I picked a bad week to start doing “On the Agenda” posts on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education doings. Too much going on. Given the amount to cover, I’m going to try to keep the comments and … Continue reading
Meet The Billionaires Who Are Trying To Privatize Our Schools And Kill Public Education
For most of you reading this, dear advocates of public education, none of this that I am about to mention will be very new information for you. But given Sam Dillon’s report on the front page of the New York … Continue reading
That Was Strange — MMSD Budget Hearing Report
Patti Smith, “Aint It Strange” (click to listen or download). Short meeting, short report. I got there 15minutes late, a very sparse crowd, maybe 4-5 people who weren’t there in a professional capacity, more reporters than citizens. Strange. By the … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Budget, Contracts, education, finance, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, School Finance, Scott Walker
MMSD Budget Hearings, 5/19 & 5/22
Click on image for all the District 2011-2012 Budget Information. The Kingsmen – “Money” (click to listen or download). The Madison Metropolitan School District will be holding two Budget Hearings on May 19 (5:00 PM at the Doyle Building) and … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Best Practices, Budget, Contracts, education, Equity, finance, Local News, School Finance, Scott Walker, Take Action, Uncategorized
Senate Bill 95 Testimony
Sisyphus 1, by Davor, click on image for more. The Lyres, “Don’t Give It up Now” (click to listen or download). Thank you for this opportunity to testify on Senate Bill 95. Due to time limitations — both the time … Continue reading
“Flexibility” = Decline = Ugly
Remember warnings about your face getting stuck in some ugly expression? I think the champions of “flexibility” in Wisconsin and elsewhere need loud and repeated warnings that their “flexibility” in educational policy (along with privatization, cuts in funding, destruction of … Continue reading
Save the Dates
Wednesday April 20, 10:30 AM, “A Better Way” School Funding Alternatives Press Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2011 Parents, Religious and Education Leaders Call for Balanced Approach in Budgeting for Public Education. MADISON, Wis. – A broad coalition of … Continue reading
My Letter on Senate Bill 22
Members of the Senate Education Committee My name is Thomas J. Mertz. I have been active in Madison and statewide working for adequate educational funding and equitable educational policies. Like many I see much in Senate Bill 22 that will … Continue reading
