Schools Superintendent: State Can’t Continue Education Funding Trends

State Public Schools Superintendent Tony Evers called for more state money to support schools in his annual State of Education address Thursday in the Capitol.

Evers began his address by highlighting the importance of mental health services and nutrition programs in the state’s schools. Then he addressed the state’s teacher shortage.

The superintendent said negative rhetoric about the teaching profession needs to end if the state is going to solve what he called “critical staffing shortages.” He also called for teachers’ salaries to be increased.

The public already supports increased spending for education, Evers said.

“Today, almost 80 percent of school districts approve referenda,” he said. “Citizens are voting to tax themselves because the state ain’t pulling its weight.”

Students of Wisconsin can’t afford for trends in state education funding to continue, Evers said.

“I worry that each year that we kick the can down the road instead of addressing our funding problems, we risk failing our obligation to all our kids,” he said.

Evers said increased spending for students learning English as a second language, students with disabilities and students living in poverty have contributed to financial stress on schools.