The Madison Common Council voted this evening to support the “Walk on the Child’s Side” rally slated for June 16th. The resolution read as follows:
WHEREAS, investment in education is essential to the quality of life and future prosperity of Madison and the State of Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, for 15 years the school funding system of the State of Wisconsin has produced annual shortfalls between costs and allowed revenues, resulting in annual program cuts of between 1% and 2% for most school districts; and WHEREAS, the school funding system of the State of Wisconsin produces inequities in taxation and educational opportunities and does not adequately provide for the distribution of resources based on the diverse circumstances of students and districts; and WHEREAS, the school funding system of the State of Wisconsin’s over reliance on property taxes places school districts in harmful competition with Counties and Municipalities; and WHEREAS, achieving adequate, equitable and sustainable investment in education requires action by state government; andWHEREAS, on June 7, 1999 the Price County Citizens Who CARE and their allies began a 240 mile “Walk on the Child’s Side” to carry the message of the need for education finance reform to the Wisconsin State Capitol, arriving in Madison on June 17, 1999; and have repeated this walk in subsequent years and have continued working for education finance reform; and WHEREAS, these efforts have been instrumental in bringing public attention to the need for education finance reform; and WHEREAS, On June 16, 2009 at 11:00 the Price County Citizens Who Care will host a 10th Anniversary “Walk on the Child’s Side” Rally and March in Madison, Wisconsin; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison Wisconsin recognizes the need to support our local school districts and that fundamental changes in Wisconsin’s school funding system are necessary;
and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council of the City Madison supports efforts to call public attention to this need and seeks to build coalitions to bring about education finance reform. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison Wisconsin extends support to the “Walk on the Child’s Side” 10th Anniversary Rally and March and encourages the citizens of Madison to support and participate in the “Walk on the Child’s Side” 10th Anniversary Rally and March.
Robert Godfrey
AMPS 