One thing that needs to be corrected is this: “After the first year, the state kicks in two-thirds of the funding and covers the full cost after four years.”
What happens is that the district must absorb all costs the first year, the second year and beyond the students are added to the member count (on a prorated basis, since 4-K is not full time) and figured in the three-year rolling average calculations for the revenue cap. This would mean they would be counted at 1/3 for the second year. 2/3 for the third year and fully thereafter. Like all other students in Madison, the state share of costs would be based on relative property wealth. In Madison this translates into about 40% state funding.
I’ve been trying to track down how Green Bay managed the start up costs. No luck yet, but I’ll find out and post here.
One answer is via a referendum.
Thomas J. Mertz
AMPS 