Representing Wisconsin State Assembly District 93

Since being elected to serve as your state representative, I always have and will continue to support our local schools. That is why I was proud to vote for a bipartisan state budget that provides an historic_$13 billion_in funding for our Wisconsin schools – with 46 percent of every general- purpose tax dollar going to education.

This investment restores Wisconsin’s promise of twothirds education funding and guarantees Wisconsin an additional $2.6 billion in federal K-12 funding as part of the Federal COVID Relief legislation.

But what does this mean for schools in the 93rd_Assembly District? According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, between the additional state funds and the secured federal funds, our area will receive at least $48 million in new education dollars. _That averages out to approximately $1,700 in new money per student.

I know many school districts throughout the 93rd_Assembly District worked diligently to provide as much in-person instruction as possible, and their staff made many adjustments when they encountered unprecedented challenges. Our area schools demonstrated incredible resilience as they worked hard to ensure that each and every child had access to high-quality education despite the difficult circumstances created by the pandemic. In acknowledging that these schools prioritized their student's learning, we, as a state, decided that these schools deserve additional federal funding. That is why every school that was in-person for at least 50 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic will receive at minimum an additional $781 per pupil.

This budget also provides funding to cover more special education expenses with nearly 10 percent more being covered by the state, while also increasing the state’s reimbursement for high-cost special education cases. This is the second budget in a row with a significant increase in funding for special education costs and matches the request by then-State School Superintendent Evers.

Unfortunately, some people continue to claim that this budget, which invested $13 billion in state money, secured $2.6 billion in federal school aid, and received support from both Republicans and Democrats, including the governor, does not support our schools. I disagree.

My goal was to help craft a budget that was reasonable for the taxpayers of the 93rd_Assembly District while also supporting the needs of western Wisconsin, and that goal was accomplished. Every child in our state deserves access to the best possible education, and this budget recognizes the importance of our community schools.

As we continue through the remainder of this legislative session, I will continue to advocate for the needs of the people of Western Wisconsin.