Governor Evers vs. Tim Michaels on Education

2022 Election: Gov. Evers vs. Tim Michaels on Education

2022 Election: Gov. Evers vs. Tim Michaels on Education

milwaukee – On November 8th, Wisconsin voters will score their education gubernatorial candidates. About 88% of Wisconsin voters surveyed in a recent Marquette Law School poll said they were concerned about public schools.

At Trinity Lutheran Freistadt School, Wisconsin’s oldest private school, Republican candidate for Governor Tim Michels and his running mate, State Senator Roger Ross, took a tour. At Trinity, 45% of students receive school vouchers. A key part of Michels’ plan is to ensure that all students in the state qualify for vouchers. Vouchers are used to pay for children to attend private school using taxpayer money.

“We want to make sure that every boy and girl in Wisconsin has the choice to go to school and the opportunity to go to the school that their parents and families think is best for them.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would make all Wisconsin students eligible for vouchers. The bill would have eliminated the current maximum income limit on vouchers.

“They worry it is taking money away from public schools. What do you say?” asked FOX6’s Jason Calvi in ​​an interview with Michels.

“If you’re a public school administrator and you think you’re doing a great job, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Michels said. I know it’s not a business, but you have to approach it with a results-oriented approach, but like many schools at MPS, you should worry if you’re failing. Because we will find other options, and because we deserve to have the opportunity to find other options.”

Evers has been welcoming children back to public schools in recent weeks.

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“When I took office, we worked to correct a decade of underinvestment in our schools, and now our K-12 school ranks 8th in the nation, up from 17th just five years ago. ranked number one,” said Evers.

These rankings are from US News and World Report.

At the same time, Wisconsin Department of Education leaders said standardized tests for the 2020-2021 school year show a decline in English and math proficiency since the pandemic.

The Democratic governor is asking the Republican-controlled Congress to use the state’s estimated $5 billion budget surplus to spend another $2 billion on public schools.

“Over the last decade, Republicans have cut more than $4 billion from my proposed education budget as Governor and Superintendent of Education. We have a lot of work to do to fund it, do it the right way,” Evers said.

Below are some of the ways the plan will spend another $2 billion in funding.

• $10 million for reading and literacy programs
• Donated $5 million to help high school students learn how to make smart money choices
• $20 million for preschool and afterschool programming
• $240 million for mental health services
• $750 million to increase special education assistance by increasing reimbursement rates from 30% to 45% in 2023-24 and to 60% in 2024-25
• $800 million to avoid having to raise property taxes

“For too long, the only indicator was how much money was spent on the budget. I invest in students, not the system. I empower parents, not bureaucracy. is results-focused, invests in what works, and improves education for all students,” Michaels recently tweeted.

In the current budget debate, Republicans pointed to more than $2.6 billion in federal COVID-19 aid to Wisconsin schools in addition to what the state is giving to districts.

Republican legislative leaders like House Speaker Robin Voss have already rejected the governor’s latest proposals for the upcoming budget. They often argue over school matters.

This year, the governor vetoed a GOP bill that would divide Milwaukee Public Schools into four to eight smaller school districts.

“It looks like we’re essentially putting our kids into pawns in the political game,” Evers said in February 2022. I don’t stand for it, and it’s offensive to me to put children in pawn positions in some kind of political chess game. “

“Have you signed the bill to dismantle the Milwaukee Public School District?” asked FOX6’s Jason Calvi.

“Again, Jason, the devil is in the details,” Michels said. “I’ll have to look into it, but I’m certainly open to dismantling MPS.

In an exclusive interview with FOX6’s Michels, FOX6’s Jason Calvi asked him if he would accept that his local school district has come to require masks.

“The best decisions are made at the lowest local level, so that’s up to the school board,” Michels said. “No state, governor’s office, or lieutenant governor’s office will tell you to wear a mask. People can decide for themselves what is best for their children at school. At Michelle’s Corporation, we Never shut down.We have found a way to get things done and keep people safe.I am 100% confident that schools, school boards and administrators can do the same. increase.”

FOX6 News also asked for a one-on-one interview with Gov. Evers, but his campaign said he was unavailable prior to the article’s publication.

Both campaigns have pages dedicated to education platforms, Evers and Michels.

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