State Schools Chief, RUSD Officials to Discuss Possible School Vouchers Impact

State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Evers will join Racine Unified School District officials in Racine Thursday, May 19, to outline the potential impact of school vouchers.

A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Walden III Middle/High School, 1012 Center St.

RUSD Superintendent, Dr. Jim Shaw, and RUSD School Board member, Don Nielsen, will join Evers. Nielsen, who serves as School Board treasurer and chairs its audit committee, said Wednesday that expanding a state-supported voucher system to Racine “would exacerbate the problems we have.”

Gov. Scott Walker told a national school choice advocacy organization on May 9 that he wants Racine, Beloit and Green Bay residents to be able to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private and religious schools. Fellow Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee – including Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, JFC co-chairman – said they like the idea and hope the committee will include it in the upcoming state budget.

The governor’s proposed state budget for 2011-13 already includes a provision to modify the 20-year-old Milwaukee Parental Choice Program by lifting enrollment caps, phasing out family income limits and expanding the program throughout Milwaukee County.

On a party-line vote, the Republican-controlled Assembly approved the Milwaukee school choice provision on May 10 and sent it to the Senate where it awaits further action.

Nielsen, who has been critical of the governor’s plans to cut state aid to local school districts, is particularly concerned that expanding voucher programs will further stretch RUSD’s budget.

“If we’re going to have (statewide) vouchers, than let’s level the playing field,” he said, noting that unlike private schools, the state’s public school districts are required to accept all students, administer standardized student achievement tests and continue to attempt to educate students with behavioral issues.

“I’m not naïve. If (public) funding becomes available, parents who have pulled their children from private and parochial schools because of financial difficulties will put them right back,” Nielsen said. “This (voucher proposal) is going a long way toward the privatization of education in this state.”