http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/heidi-hussli-students-gbpg-s5.jpgState Rep. against proposed cuts in the Green Bay Area Public School District.

GREEN BAY — State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) released the following statement on proposed cuts in the Green Bay Area Public School District:

“What is happening in Green Bay should concern every community in Wisconsin. Nearly every corner of our state is now facing school referendums just to keep the lights on. That is not sustainable. And it is not by accident. It is the direct result of decades of underfunding and a Legislature that chose to walk away from its responsibility, ending session nearly 10 months early without even funding what was already promised. When the state refuses to pay its bills, local communities are forced to pick up the tab. And when that happens, students pay the price.

Our kids should not pay the price for political inaction. Green Bay deserves better. Our community expects a government that works and meets its obligations. We have the resources to fix this. The state is sitting on a surplus, and Democrats have introduced legislation to more fully invest in our schools while holding the line on property taxes. That includes increasing general school aids by over $445 million and moving toward reimbursing 60 percent of special education costs so local districts are not left behind.

This is the difference between cutting opportunity and expanding it. And let’s be clear about what is at stake.  Programs like the Fine Arts Institute are not extras. They are often the reason students stay engaged, build confidence, and see a future for themselves. Right now, local leaders are being asked to solve a problem they did not create. This is what happens when the state neglects its responsibility for too long. In Green Bay, we take care of each other. That means investing in our kids, supporting our schools, and expecting our government to do its job.

I will keep fighting until it does.”