Join us April 19 from 5-7 p.m.

Speak Up and Support Your Public Schools on April 19 from 5-7 p.m. in the high school. Activities include a letter writing station, art building for families to be creative and make and contribute to artistic projects that can be used to advocate for our schools, speak with School Board members and representatives from the administration about the problem and what the next steps are.

RSVP HERE

READ: Letter from Interim Superintendent Shaw about the budget crisis in Wisconsin.

The Problem Facing South Milwaukee Schools This Year

State legislators have created a situation where SDSM is forced to use one-time Covid-19-related federal grant funds, ESSER Funds, to pay for recurring costs. These funds will go away at the end of the 2023/24 fiscal year – thus creating a “fiscal cliff” for the vast majority of school districts in Wisconsin.

Furthermore, historic inflationary costs impact various district expenses from utilities to staffing – and is projected to only be higher for the 23/24 fiscal year.

Finally, since the state has neglected to help mitigate these issues in the past biennium, it has implemented an artificial crisis upon public school districts.

Due to inflationary demands and the depletion of ESSER funds, SDSM will be facing a financial crisis in which next year’s expenditures will exceed revenues

What You Can Do

Attend a Public Hearing or Submit Testimony

The Joint Finance Committee announced four public hearings on the 2023-25 State Budget. You can also submit testimony virtually here or send an email to the whole committee at [email protected]
The public hearing schedule is:

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 5- Waukesha

Waukesha County Expo Center, Main Arena

1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha

10 am – 5 pm: Tuesday, April 11– Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire, Davies Student Center

Ojibwe Grand Ballroom (Third Floor)

77 Roosevelt Ave., Eau Claire

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 12– Wisconsin Dells

Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center

Sandstone Meeting Room

45 Hillman Road, Wisconsin Dells

10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 26– Minocqua

Lakeland Union High School

9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua

Additional information from SAA, including budget talking points, is forthcoming.

Additionally, Wisconsinites may access the online portal to submit testimony which will be circulated to all 16 committee members: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/ as well as a dedicated email address: [email protected]

Contact your legislators

Senator Chris Larson (D- Milwaukee)
Senate District 7
608-266-7505
[email protected]

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R - Oak Creek)
Assembly District 21
608-266-0610
[email protected]

Share your Thoughts with the Joint Finance Committee Members Individually

The JFC has a large hand in creating the State's spending plans. The committee is made up of 16 members, half from the Senate, and half from the Assembly. Majority members (Republicans) hold 12 seats while four are from the minority party (Democrats)

JFC Members from the Assembly:

Rep. Mark Born (Co-Chair)
(608)237-9139
[email protected]
Rep. Alex Dallman (New to JFC)
(608) 237-9141
[email protected]
Rep. Terry Katsma
(608) 237-9126
[email protected]
Rep. Jessie Rodriguez
(608) 237-9121
[email protected]
Rep. Tony Kurtz
(608) 237-9150
[email protected]
Rep. Shannon Zimmerman
(608) 237-9130
Rep. Tip McGuire (New to JFC)
(608) 237-9164
[email protected]
Rep. Evan Goyke
(608) 237-9118
[email protected]

JFC Members from the Senate

Sen. Howard Marklein (Co-Chair)
(608) 266-0703
[email protected]
Sen. Duey Stroebel
(608) 266-7513
[email protected]
Sen. Patrick Testin (New to JFC)
(608) 266-3123
[email protected]
Sen. Mary Felzkowski
(608) 266-2509
[email protected]
Sen. Joan Ballweg
(608) 266-0751
[email protected]
Sen. Eric Wimberger (New to JFC)
(608) 266-5670
[email protected]
Sen. LaTonya Johnson
(608) 266-2500
[email protected]
Sen. Kelda Roys (New to JFC)
(608) 266-1627
[email protected]

School District ofSouth Milwaukee

Budget Advocacy - Support Public Education