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District delegation urges legislators to fund special education aid and index per-pupil adjustments; legislators warn of delayed state budget
Summary
Board members reported on a Wisconsin Association of School Boards Day at the Capitol where they pushed for higher special-education reimbursement and CPI-indexed per-pupil funding; legislators told attendees the state budget may be delayed until autumn and flagged concerns about over-identification messaging.
Board members who attended the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Day at the Capitol reported back to the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District board on March 3, describing key advocacy priorities, what they told legislators and what legislators said in response.
What district advocates asked for: District representatives — including Vice President Bob Green and board member Jim Corsi — said WASB prepared talking points to press for increased special-education reimbursement and for indexing per-pupil adjustments to the consumer price index so state aid keeps pace with inflation. WASB’s materials referenced a range of possible reimbursement rates discussed in state-level conversations; presenters said Governor Tony Evers had proposed a higher reimbursement than past practice, and DPI had argued for a higher share in earlier discussions.
What legislators said: Attendees reported that some legislators advised that a final state biennial budget may not be available until mid-to-late autumn, citing political and procedural uncertainties (including potential actions on vetoes and the upcoming Supreme Court election). Presenters said several legislators raised a talking point about concerns of “over-identification” of students for special education — a framing that meeting attendees found problematic — and the district delegation relayed concerns about the accuracy and implications of that framing to their legislators.
Follow-up and advice: Board members said legislators were generally receptive to hearing from districts and encouraged continued outreach; presenters recommended that district stakeholders contact their representatives and help build community awareness about the need for stronger special-education funding because underfunded mandates affect all students through diverted general-fund resources.
Ending: Board members said the day was well organized, that they gained useful contacts in Madison and that they will continue local and regional advocacy through the Dane County governance group and WASB.
