We need to take a hard look

by J. Patrick Reilly

The state of public education continues to be a challenge.  If becomes evident as we cover school board meetings every month.

Only one district we cover received more aid this year than last year.  The rest of them got less.

That is an issue we must address.

Public education has always been a point of pride in Iowa County. Our schools are the heart of our small towns — places where teachers know every child’s name, where sports and music bring communities together, and where families put their faith in the next generation. But that faith is being tested, as our schools continue to face the growing reality that current funding simply isn’t enough.

Across Iowa County, districts are being asked to stretch every dollar further than ever before. Rising costs for transportation, special education, and classroom materials are outpacing the funds schools receive from the state. Local referendums — once rare — have become a lifeline, forcing taxpayers to choose between keeping class sizes reasonable or cutting programs that enrich learning.

Teachers, already working long hours, are paying out of pocket for supplies and managing larger classes. Support staff are stretched thin. Bus routes are consolidated to save fuel, extracurriculars are trimmed, and building repairs are delayed. These are not signs of wasteful spending; they’re symptoms of a system that’s underfunded and overburdened.

The result is that students in Iowa County are missing out on opportunities they deserve — not because of a lack of effort or commitment, but because of a lack of resources. Rural schools, in particular, face unique challenges that state funding formulas often fail to recognize. When small districts must do more with less year after year, it becomes harder to offer the same educational quality that wealthier or urban areas can provide.

It’s time for state leaders to take a hard look at what it truly costs to educate a child in rural Wisconsin and to fund our schools accordingly. Our students shouldn’t depend on whether a referendum passes to have access to quality teachers, safe buildings, and the tools they need to learn.

Investing in education is investing in Iowa County’s future — in its workforce, its families, and its communities. We owe it to our children to make sure our schools have not just enough to get by, but enough to thrive.