State superintendent statement on Tuesday’s school referendum results

MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today released the following statement regarding school referendums on the ballot across Wisconsin.

 

“Wisconsin communities value our public schools and the future of our kids, but they are being put in an impossible position. While billions of dollars sit in the state’s coffers in the form of a surplus, voters are making the difficult decision whether to raise their own taxes just so their public schools can survive. Tonight’s referendum results are further proof that our state is not living up to its responsibility.

 

“For far too long, Wisconsin has willfully underfunded our public schools and it’s led to severe financial constraints and difficult choices. Local families are choosing whether they can fill the hole.

 

“We need to reinvest in our public schools and our kids, and we have the means to do so. We owe it to our kids to make the necessary investments, and to stop forcing local communities to make impossible choices.”