Governor Walker’s reforms do work By Joyce Bant
Editor:
The recent Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators survey reveals that the majority of school districts are adding math, science, music, language and art classes, while preserving athletic programs thanks to Governor Walker’s reforms.
The survey showed that new teacher hires outnumber layoffs by more than 1,200 statewide. The layoffs that have occurred are concentrated in three districts which chose to sidestep the Walker reforms.
The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) was one of the districts to sidestep the reforms, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stated in their Nov. 26 issue that they have reconsidered and will now implement them.
Their new respect for the reforms offered under Act 10 came after MPS lost 1,000 jobs, nearly one-tenth of its staff. Jobs, programs, and building repairs were sacrificed to pay full benefits and retirement costs for the remaining employees. This is even more alarming since those benefits are so generous that they are unheard of in the private sector.
It is important to note that the Governor did not force any district to implement his reforms. The facts remain that those districts which did not implement the reforms fired teachers, increased class size, and angered parents. Now those districts are eager to implement Governor Walker’s reforms.
The anti-Walker ads currently running on TV are probably about those schools that didn’t implement the reforms. Is that why the name of the school is not mentioned? One is left to wonder!
According to JSOnline, the MPS school board has now agreed, 6-3, to implement Governor Walker’s reforms. They have realized that those reforms do work.
It’s irresponsible to recall a governor who honors his campaign promises. Those promises were acknowledged in an October 2010 WEAC newsletter, and were accompanied with a warning to their members to get out and vote against him! Do your own research. Visit weac.org/lakewoodlookout/october2010. The information is on page 3.
Scott Walker prevailed despite their threats and tantrums, so the Democrats decided to try again by misusing our recall process. Their continued frivolous wasting of millions of tax dollars on another recall election shows their level of disrespect for our tax dollars.
What will it say about Wisconsinites if we recall a Governor who protected the financial stability of our public schools while preserving the quality of instruction?
Joyce Bant, Hazelhurst
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