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GBA president urges board, community to press legislators for increased public school funding and oppose vouchers
Summary
Brent Bergstrom, president of the Green Bay Education Association, told the board that state funding shortfalls and voucher expansion threaten public schools and urged the board and community to push legislators to increase reimbursements for special education and preserve federal funding.
Brent Bergstrom, president of the Green Bay Education Association, used the public forum at the March 17 Green Bay Area Public School District board meeting to urge community and board action on school funding and voucher policy.
Bergstrom, who identified himself as representing more than 1,300 district education staff, said state funding for public schools has been eroded over time and urged the board to delay benefit changes until the state budget is finalized. “Time and time again, [legislators] have funneled money out of public schools … to fund private voucher schools instead with our public dollars,” Bergstrom said. He cited reimbursement rates for special education, saying public schools were reimbursed at roughly 29% while voucher schools received higher reimbursement.
He encouraged community members to contact legislators and to support Governor Tony Evers’ budget proposal, which Bergstrom said would raise public school special education reimbursement toward 60% (as discussed during the meeting). Bergstrom also warned that threats to federal funding could further strain districts and called for collective action to oppose privatization trends.
Board members did not take formal action on the comments; Bergstrom’s remarks were part of the public forum that the board reserves for community input.
