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Whitewater Communication on JFC Action
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 21, 2015
Like many of you, Eric Runez, Superintendent of the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD), wrote his elected state representatives regarding his concerns over many of the education-related budget items rolled into the 30-page omnibus motion and adopted by the Joint Finance Committee early Wednesday morning. In sharing his communication with his board, administrative team, entire staff and the leadership of the local parent advocacy group, this is what Eric said to them:
WUSD,
I thought it appropriate to share with all of you my communication today with the legislators who represent our school district. As I hope you are aware, our legislators are wrestling with a number of significant state budget decisions impacting public education. The most pressing is obviously school funding. The Joint Finance Committee adopted a budget motion late last night on a 12-4 party line vote that will move forward to to the assembly and senate. Although it appears they are restoring funding, the motion is packed with a number of educational policies that are either not directly related to school funding or polices that will indirectly draw from public school funding. District administrators have been aware of some of the policy issues proposed, but a number of policy proposals seem to have come from “thin air”.
I want to share with you some of the questions I am asking and information I am requesting as I work to engage our legislators and advocate for the district. If you are inclined to, you can also contact your representatives to ask similar questions about these legislative policies, or you might find other questions as you review the budget motion. You can find the entire document at the link in my communication below. I am still studying the motion and am certain I will have more questions in the next few days.
I know much of this seems so far removed from your work with students, but I believe it is important for you to be at least aware of these issues. You all do wonderful things for children everyday, and your work and profession are worth advocating for.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the items in the budget motion.
Thank you,
Eric
See Eric’s communication to legislators here.
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