School Board Advocacy Efforts & the DPI Proposed State Budget

Earlier this month, State Superintendent Jill Underly submitted a request from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for $2.5 billion during the 2023-2025 biennium budget. This is the official beginning of the state budget process for school funding, as this request sets the baseline the elected Governor will work from when proposing the full state budget early next year.

The budget priorities that have been proposed include the following:

• Creating predictable and sustainable funding for schools
• Increasing, diversifying, and strengthening the educator pipeline
• Addressing student mental health and expanding support to students
• Establishing strong foundations of learning
• Ensuring Wisconsin students have access to healthy meals
• Strengthening Wisconsin public libraries and lifelong learning

The first budget priority is centered around adequate per-pupil revenue limits. As one of the districts in the state of Wisconsin with the lowest per pupil revenue limit amounts, Howard-Suamico has a projected revenue cap of $9,946.50, below the current minimum of $10,000 per pupil. What that means is that the district is only allowed to spend this much money on each student, according to state law. State Superintendent Underly is requesting that the low revenue ceiling limit be raised to $10,350 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year and to $11,000 in the 2024-2025 fiscal year in the recent budget proposal. This would have a significant impact on the HSSD budget and is something that we, as a Board, have been advocating for for years.

No matter who is elected in November, the Governor will work closely with State Superintendent Jill Underly on increasing funding for public schools in the next state budget, as both candidates are making education a strong priority. We encourage you to learn about both these individuals and make an informed decision based on factual information; not merely ads. The HSSD School Board will also work with the newly elected Governor and our local elected officials to hopefully make some of these budget priorities a reality.

For additional information about the Howard-Suamico School District or how you can support these efforts, please visit www.hssdschools.org.