Cut Sports!  Cut Music! Cut Art!  Cut Something else!
SDSM has cut over 60 positions in the district.  We have only one librarian, one nurse, skeleton office staffs and many programs and clubs have already been cut.  All the "trimming" of food service, cleaning, groundskeeping and elective programs around the edges has been done.

Entire programs are next.  Once a program is cut.  It seldom returns.  For example:  If choir goes this year, then wrestling will be next year.  Your favorite program might not get cut now, but it will happen later.  We need ideas on how to cut costs and not cut ANY positions.

Let's cut the administration!  This is only a temporary solution and we'll be cutting more next year.  With no front office, who will be in charge for labor and employment/budget matters, student/parent matters, and represent our school district in TV/Radio press conferences?

We built a new school in 2004.  Where did that money go?
The 2004 referendum was passed by a 52% margin.  Money for the new high school were funds specifically for the new high school.  It remained a separate budget.

Hold a referendum! 
A referendum is a temporary and expensive solution.  Wisconsin school districts that are using referendums for this purpose, use it for three years, then need to repeat the process again and again.  Given the current economy, a referendum would not pass at this time.

Should a new State sales tax increase be approved to fund schools?
See this website:  http://www.apennyforkids.org/
Will more state control over education funds really help?  That's why we're here now.

Let's cut pensions and benefits! More districts around the state are going to arbitration to save their school districts.   The SDSM union employees need to save themselves from job cuts and speak to their union reps.  Save your class sizes, save your resources, and save yourselves.    For our kid's sake, please!

Why is this happening?

• The State Funding system is broken:
  Under the old QEO (which was eliminated in 2009) , South Milwaukee could only increase property taxes at a 2.3% annual limit
  however, we were mandated to give teachers a 3.8% annual wage increase
  which equals:
  a 1.5% shortfall EVERY YEAR (from 1994 to 2009).
  However, the damage has been done.
  
  Starting in 2010, the state has changed it's formula again, and is now based on a per pupil spending formula, which still gives SM a shortfall.
   
• The State is reversing their aid - they will be funding less and less.
   
• Over 80% of our budget is salaries, pensions, benefits and utilities.  It's increasing every year due to union contracts, and state mandates.

• Since 2002, South Milwaukee has cut over 60 positions in the District. That's the equivalency of closing Blakewood Elementary School.
   
• But this is just one part of a bigger picture where cuts will have to be made each year as the state keeps changing the funding formula.
   

The views and opinions of this website are not of the School District of South Milwaukee.  This website is offered as a resource to understand the complex
Wisconsin education funding system.