UNDATED (WSAU) Thousands of layoffs in Wisconsin’s public schools could be avoided this fall, if the U-S Senate passes a 23-billion-dollar education jobs bill. That’s what State Superintendent Tony Evers said yesterday. He said it could give Wisconsin about 415-million dollars in federal stimulus funding for teacher-and-staff salaries and training.
Evers is not sure how many staff members face layoffs – or how many the funding would avoid – but he says it’s in the thousands. Milwaukee alone is considering 850 layoffs, including up to 200 teachers. Evers admits the stimulus money is a band-aid, but it would give him more time to work on new ideas to improve the way schools are funded. And he says it’s worth pursuing. The U-S House passed the measure last December, but it didn’t go anywhere in the Senate.
Iowa Senate Democrat Tom Harkin recently introduced a nearly identical bill. It would work similar to another stimulus education program that expires at the end of the current school year. Unlike the “Race to the Top” funding, Evers says states would not have to compete for federal aid under Harkin’s bill. One version would send more money to schools with larger numbers or poor students. Another would give states more flexibility in spreading out the funding – something Evers supports.
