Local group to deliver petitions to Madison
Whitewater YES for Education representatives will present a petition, signed by more than 1,200 people, to the Assembly Committee on Education Thursday at the State Capitol in Madison. Assembly Bill 481/Senate Bill 355, if signed into law, would restrict the ability of school districts to seek referenda for public schools.
The statewide petition, which was organized by Whitewater YES for Education, a volunteer community/parent group in Whitewater focused on supporting the Whitewater Unified School District, reads as follows:
“The undersigned are very concerned about Senate Bill 355/Assembly Bill 481 that restricts school district referenda. The proposal limits ballot dates and implements a two-year waiting period after a failed referendum. The legislation makes it potentially very difficult for school districts to maintain programming and educational opportunities.
“Public education is the cornerstone of our communities. Please don’t take away the rights of our school districts to go to referendum,” the petition states.
A link to the petition and additional information can be found at goo.gl/forms/KQs8nXhgE0.
“We are concerned about these bills which curb local control and restrict a school district’s ability to go to referendum. We are encouraging all citizens of Whitewater and the entire State of Wisconsin to sign this petition,” Ron Binning, a member of the leadership team of Whitewater YES for Education, said.
“This petition has also reached other folks from across Wisconsin who are very concerned and want to make sure that their communities have local control over referenda,” Binning added.
The Whitewater Unified School District held a referendum in 2014 that passed by 65 percent, allowing the Whitewater Unified School District to continue to provide vital educational programs to all students in the community.
“Without this referendum, our schools would be hurting. If this passes, our children, and children from around the state of Wisconsin, could be at an educational disadvantage competing for entry into universities, two-year colleges and the job market. The state’s recent drastic decisions to cut funding to public schools, coupled with these restrictions in referenda, could cripple our district and many others in Wisconsin,” Binning said.
“We hope that legislators do the right thing and keep local control where it should be kept – in our local communities,” he said.
Those interested in receiving information from the Whitewater YES for Education group, or who have questions should send an email to whitewateryes@gmail.com.
