School Vouchers And Funding Dominate State Budget Hearing

A number of people spoke about the school voucher program at the Joint Finance Committee hearing on the state budget held Thursday at Greendale High School.

The hearing was the first of four being held around the state to give residents the chance to have their say on Gov. Scott Walker’s 2013-15 budget. After the hearings, the committee will vote on any changes before sending their version on to the Assembly and Senate.

One private school official asked for more money from the state while a public school board member called for stiffer regulations for private schools and more funding for public schools. And, one parent called on Legislators to increase funding for special education for public schools and to pull out a provision in the budget that would allow for special education scholarships.

Each person spoke with passion and conviction about their topic.

St. Catherine’s High School president Christopher Olley explained how many parents have inquired about sending their children to the Catholic high school, but they’ve had to turn many people away. School choice parents do get to take state funds to pay for a private school. However, if the tuition exceeds $6,442, then the parent would have to pay difference.

The cost of education at St. Catherine’s is $9,700 for a high school student and $5,500 for a middle school student. About 80 percent of their students receive some form of financial aid, Olley explained.

“The problem is, we have a high demand of families who want to come to our school and we can’t meet it because they can’t afford it. I spend my time – other than the 5 hours I’ve been here waiting – raising money for St. Catherine’s to help families who cannot afford it,” Olley said.

He told Legislators that he would love to help out the state of Wisconsin and the City of Racine.

“If you were able to increase the financial benefit for school choice programs, we’ll be right there to help every family come through our school,” he said. “They deserve this, and we can do it. We can make a big impact.”

But Rick Moze, a Greenfield School District board member, spoke out against the voucher program expansion.

“I don’t think there’s any program in the state – outside of the school voucher program – that has no regulations and no accountability,” Moze said. “The public school teachers and administrators all have to have licenses and there are other mandates and rules that we have to follow being a public school system. The voucher schools do not have to. I think we have to have a level playing field.”

Moze said he wants see voucher schools have to follow the same rules and mandates that public schools do.

“The state constitution says that every child in this state is entitled to a free public education, it doesn’t say public or private education – it’s says public,” he said.

Another issue that came up during the public hearing was the special education scholarship program, which would allow children with disabilities to receive state funds to attend a public, charter or private school. But according to state law, private schools are only required to offer those services to assist students with special needs that it can provide with minor adjustments.

Brookfield resident Sally Flaschberger’s 18-year-old son has physical and learning disabilities.

Over the past 20 years, the state has cut special education funding by 44 percent and the state pays 26 percent of the cost for special education. Many school districts have made cuts, which have not gone unnoticed by parents, she said. The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organization, a group Flaschberger represents, did a survey and found that 46 percent of respondents had said their child’s education was worse than the year before.

“I work with many families that have seen many cuts to their children’s education, the same education that has been imperative to my son’s success in his school district,” she said. “Schools are struggling to provide the basic services to prepare a student for post secondary education or jobs.”

The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organization supports an investment in students and asked for a 30 percent increase in state reimbursement for special education be included in the budget and an increase—to 55 percent—in the special education fund, Flaschberger said.

She also asked the Committee to take the Special Needs Voucher Program out of the budget because there will be no rights under the IDEA. If a child with special needs attends a public school, the school district is held legally liable if they fail to meet the conditions of an individualized education plans. However, students who attend private schools would not have the same protection, Flaschberger said.

Tom Weatherston, a Caledonia village trustee and Assembly representative, said the hearing was very interesting.

“The public is certainly is well informed and they want to bring ideas to elected officials, which I think is great,” he said. “I was hoping to hear more of a variety of topics though.

Weatherston said he is concerned about the special education vouchers and their impact on schools, but he needs more information.

“It’s something that I plan on looking into it further,” he said.