RHINELANDER, WI – Recently, a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau detailed that general school aid to public schools has been cut by $210 per pupil over the last six years. The memo also detailed that private school voucher funding has increased by $911 per pupil over the same period. These funds disproportionately go to the Milwaukee area, where roughly 85% of the vouchers are sent.

“Public education has traditionally been a high priority in Wisconsin statewide, yet in recent years our public schools have been abandoned by legislators in Madison,” said Van Stippen in a statement on Wednesday. “Our representatives in Madison have left rural schools behind while funneling hard-earned taxpayer money into Milwaukee’s private schools. We must reverse this dangerous trend by reinvesting in our public schools so that every child can receive a quality education.”

Because of these education cuts, dozens of school districts around the state were forced to include referendums on their ballots in the recent April elections.

“Our families should not be forced to decide between paying more in local property taxes and cutting school resources. While it is good that local communities care about investing in quality education, the tragic part is that this money is not improving their school districts. Instead, this money is merely allowing the districts to stay afloat after Gov. Walker and the Legislature have cut so much of their funding,” Van Stippen said.

“It’s time for a complete reinvestment in public education so that we can attract and retain the state’s top talent, fill teaching vacancies across the state, and give our students the great education that they deserve,” Van Stippen concluded.

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Bryan Van Stippen is running to represent the 12^th Senate District in northern Wisconsin. Residents can learn more about Bryan at: www.vanstippenforsenate.com