Late last week the Department of Public Instruction released the data for a survey done by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.  The administrators for 355 school districts responded, which accounts for 83% of Wisconsin school districts.  The survey shows that for all the doom and gloom that has been published in the media, most school districts are right where they have been in the past.

Myth: Wisconsin students are seeing large class sizes

Fact:

·         75% of districts that responded to the survey have the same K-3 class sizes or are decreasing them

·         67% of districts for grades 4-6 are keeping the same class size or decreasing them

Myth: Wisconsin students will have less course choices this school year.

Fact:

·         98% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of AP courses

·         91% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of vocational/technical courses

·         94% of school districts have the same number of increased the number of art courses

·         95% of school districts have the same number of or increased the number of music courses

·         90% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of family/consumer ed. courses

·         99% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of physical education courses

·         93% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of business education courses

·         99% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of social studies courses

·         99% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of science courses

·         97% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of math courses

·         98% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of English courses

·         97% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of foreign language courses

Myth: There have been massive staff layoffs in school districts all across Wisconsin

Fact:

·         89% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of technology support staff

·         73% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of library or media center staff

·         95% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of social work staff

·         85% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of guidance staff

·         91% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of psychology staff

·         90% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of gifted and talented staff

·         74% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of special education staff

·         85% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of at risk program staff

·         84% of school districts had the same number or increased the number of drug and alcohol abuse staff

·         96% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of early childhood staff

·         96% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of English language learner program staff

·         84% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of Reading coordination staff

As you can see by the survey results, the much published doom and gloom that school districts would see from the budget hasn’t come to fruition.  The 2011 survey shows great promise for our schools but we should also compare them to a past survey under the Doyle administration.  Let’s take a look at the 2004 results. 

2004 WASDA survey results compared to this year

Note: 2004-2005 K-12 total property tax levy was 8 percent higher than the previous year

Then:  In 2004, according to WEAC 68% of school districts were increasing class sizes

Now:  75% of districts that responded to the survey have the same K-3 class sizes or are decreasing them and 67% of districts for grades 4-6 are keeping the same class size or decreasing them

Then:  In 2004, according to WEAC 51% of school districts reduced extracurricular programs

Now:  92% of school districts are keeping extracurricular activities the same or expanding them

Then:  In 2004, according to WEAC 53% of school districts reduced courses in art, music, theater

Now:  94% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of art courses and 95% of school districts have the same number of or increased the number of music courses

Then:  In 2004, according to WEAC 49% of school districts reduced programs for at-risk students

Now:  85% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of at risk program staff

Then: In 2004, according to WEAC 60% of school districts offered fewer courses

Now:  98% of school districts have the same number or increased the number of AP courses

As you can see from this comparison, Wisconsin school districts are reporting they aren’t doing as bad as the media is making it out to be.  Below is a link to what WEAC said, 7 years ago.   

http://www.weac.org/News_and_Publications/At_the_Capitol/archives/2004-2005/revcapsurvey04.aspx 

Unfortunately, it’s been a broken record of the same doomsday predictions for our education system.  You can only cry wolf so many times before the tax payers begin to wise up to the same call for more money.  At all levels of Wisconsin government and within the walls of homes all across the state, people are doing more with less.  Detractors can continue to make the same claims that Wisconsin’s education is suffering but the survey shows the reality.  School districts across the state are finding flexibility in the reforms we’ve made and are bringing more creative ideas to budgeting and the classroom.   

Resource: http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/taxlevy.html

This is the first time in six years that school tax levies have gone down, keeping an additional $225 million in Wisconsin property taxpayers’ pockets.  When hard working Wisconsinites keep more money in their pockets, discretional spending increases and so does the economy.   

Further examination of the numbers paints an even clearer picture of how our reforms are working. 

When we turn the calendar to November, Wisconsinites know its time for cold temperatures and warm fires.   November also brings one of the great traditions in our state, the rich tradition of hunting and sporting.   

I, along with hundreds of thousands of other hunters, will enjoy the time-honored tradition of marching through Wisconsin’s woods in search of the big buck.  Yet, for others, just enjoying the outdoors with friends and family is all they’re in search of this hunting season.  Whatever your motivation this weekend, I would encourage you to be safe and to encourage others to join you. 

For too long, our sporting and hunting industries have been overlooked because people don’t realize that it is a $1.4 Billion industry responsible for thousands of jobs statewide.  In response to the economic impact of hunting and concerns we’ve heard in regards to mismanagement of our wildlife resources, we teamed up with Governor Walker to enlist the services of world-renowned deer-herd management expert Dr. James Kroll to study Wisconsin’s herd and develop a sound management strategy.   

Wisconsin’s herd management strategy relies on keeping current hunters involved but also encourages others to take up the sport.  In an effort to finally give Wisconsin’s sporting tradition a direction, we passed the “Sporting Heritage Bill.”  The signature sporting bill of this session includes a number of provisions aimed at increasing participation and retention of our hunters.  This bill creates a Sporting Recruitment and Retention Task Force, reduced fees for first-time licenses, adult hunter and trapper education courses, a free ice fishing weekend, and Stewardship reform. 

To encourage new hunters we’ve removed hurdles and obstacles that have discouraged hunters from going into the woods or engaging in the sport.  Eliminating the Earn-a-Buck program, updating archaic bear hunting laws and doing away with unnecessary and burdensome gun case regulations encourages new hunters to take up the sport.  We’ve also passed legislation to provide oversight to the Pittman-Robertson program so that all hunters and sportsmen statewide will know exactly how the tax they pay on ammunition is being spent by the government. 

With the gun deer hunt beginning this weekend I wish you, your friends, and your family a safe and enjoyable weekend in Wisconsin’s scenic outdoors.  

As you well know, the real excitement of hunting is the time you get to spend with family and friends in the wilderness, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

As in the past I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation.  Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work.  As before I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.  Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (608) 266-3404, or Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov. 

Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 47^th Assembly District and if there is anyone you know who would like to be included please respond to this email with their email address. 

I want to remind everyone that my door is always open and you can always visit me at my Madison office in the Capitol (223 North).   Please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues you maybe facing.  You can call my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov.  I look forward to hearing from you.