The survey from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators shows most districts adding math, science, math, language and art classes and preserving athletic programs under Governor Walker’s reforms. Teacher hires outnumber layoffs by 1,200 in Wisconsin, according to Joyce Bant of Hazelhurst.
The three districts where most layoffs came include Milwaukee. Those districts, for political reasons, did not institute Walker’s reforms. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Milwaukee public schools, after losing 1,000 jobs in order to maintain full benefits for employees, has now decided to implement Walker’s reforms by a 6 to 3 vote. Better late than never.
Governor Walker never forced school districts to follow his reforms. He just said he was giving them the flexibility to do so, to avoid layoffs.
If we want our schools to be run in an efficient manner, for the benefit of students, Walker’s reforms make sense. Lower taxes are good.
Teachers’ unions always say they want what’s best for the students. Then why have they fought so hard to resist teachers being rated according to performance, resisted measurement of effectiveness, fought merit pay and even filed lawsuits to prevent students from going online to complete course requirements?
Governor Walker’s reforms have put the taxpayers and the school boards back in charge so schools can be run for the benefit of the students.