District's Money 'Siphoned' to Fund Voucher Program: School Board Member

Greenfield School Board members believe the expanded private school voucher program included in Gov. Scott Walker’s new biennium budget would have an adverse impact on public school systems like theirs.

And they are not happy about it.

“As a public school district, we have to be concerned anytime money is being siphoned to fund private schools,” Board member Cathy Walsh said at a June 10 board meeting. “We represent the taxpayers and we have to do what is best for public schools.

“We could have students leaving the district, or they live in Greenfield and they go to a private school and the taxpayers end up paying their tuition.”

In the latest state budget, the voucher program will expand to include 500 students in the first year and another 1,000 students the following year.

The program allows students to attend private schools using taxpayer money. Students from a family of four with an income cap of $75,000 or less were previously eligible. State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers said he’s fearful the provisions on the number of students eligible and the family income restrictions will be lifted soon.

Greenfield’s interim superintendent David Ewald said the voucher program and other initiatives like charter schools don’t have a proven track record, and questioned the economic feasibility of expanding the voucher program.

“The intent of voucher schools was to give school choice to students who live in poverty,” he said. “But if it spreads, creating another school system in addition to the one we have would be a huge cost.”

On Monday, the School Board is likely to unanimously support a resolution crafted by board member Robert Hansen denouncing the voucher program and expressing the district’s unified opposition to it.

Board member Rick Moze said one of his biggest issues with the voucher program is its lack of accountability.

“As far as I know, it’s the only state-funded program with no regulations,” Moze said.

In a statement earlier this week, State Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), who district includes part of Greenfield, praised the expansion of the “promising school choice program.”

“Not all students learn the same way, and we must give parents the tools to send their children to a school that best fits their needs,” he said.