“The irresponsibility of this (Madison School Board) is just hard to get your head around”
The district used temporary COVID relief funds to pay for 110 permanent positions that they knew they couldn’t afford once the federal money went away. Now, they’re asking voters to pick up the tab. And if they don’t, will they cut the positions? No, they’ll pay for them out of reserves (see above). Also, the district has more positions than it had a decade ago while enrollment has declined by 7%. Along these lines the district gave teachers an 8% pay increase in 2023 while they were still awash in all that federal money — and again they knew full well that they couldn’t afford it.
This is the same district that would use referendum money to replace schools that are at 50% of capacity with new, bigger buildings. A district that won’t even consider consolidation of facilities. And it’s a district that plans to fix a relatively small $3 million deficit in its school lunch program…. but take a decade to do it.
There’s certainly some incompetence at work here, but most of all there’s arrogance.
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Madison’s well funded k-12 system and city government are seeking substantial 607M+ tax and spending increases via referendum this fall.
Madison taxpayers of long supported far above average K – 12 spending.
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?
