MONONA (WKOW) -- Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers and other school officials pointed to data on educational job losses from a survey of school administrators as proof of the harm of Governor Walker's budget cuts to schools, but the governor and other Republicans said survey results largely affirmed the wisdom of budget moves.
At a news conference at Monona Grove High School Thursday, Evers said the Wisconsin Association for School District administrators survey found a total reduction of 3,368 staff positions in the districts of responding administrators. Evers said the survey numbers reinforced state estimates of the loss of roughly four thousand jobs in kindergarten through 12th grade education.
Evers said over $700 million less for education over the length of the state's two-year budget has also resulted in canceled class sections, a higher student-to-teacher ratio in many classes and cuts in programs such as special education. Officials said the survey found four in ten students attend a district with larger class sizes in grades K-6.
In a statement, Governor Walker's spokesperson Cullen Werwie cited the WASDA data and highlighted 60 percent of districts have class sizes that are staying the same or getting smaller.
"It's good news," said Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend).
But Evers indignantly countered there's issue with even a majority of school districts maintaining smaller class sizes.
"If those number are successful, then everything's fine. What the hell? What about the 30 percent that aren't?"
Walker's budget actions also required teachers to contribute more to their pensions and health care and limited collective bargaining rights to give school districts the ability to cut labor costs to offset less state aid.
Sen. Grothman said school districts cutting staff and downsizing other services are working with labor contracts struck before the budget changes and have failed to adopt the cost saving measures.
But, Monona Grove Schools Superintendent Greg Gerlach said the district's contract with teachers included increased pension and health care contributions from teachers.
Gerlach said despite savings from the changes, rising costs still exceeded the savings and led to larger class sizes and some class section elimination.
"The English department has eliminated three course offerings for next year," home economics teacher Sue Howe said, as she talked about the impact of coping with reduced state aid.
"The art teacher has a budget of $2 per pupil to buy supplies for the entire year. I could go on and on."
Sen. Grothman cited Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance data showing the Monona Grove School District spent roughly $1,000 more per pupil than the statewide average and said district officials have failed to control costs.
