Dear Editor,
Now more than ever, our kids and our schools need our support!
School districts across Wisconsin have been under mounting financial pressure since 2010. State funding has failed to keep up with inflation and the expansion of private voucher schools have reduced the funding available to public schools. Our school board and administrators deserve credit for their hard work in trying to make ends meet, but they can only go so far without adequate funding. Unfortunately, our state legislators are not stepping up to the plate. As a result, 72 Wisconsin schools, including our own, are forced to turn to local referendums simply to cover basic operating costs. This is on top of the 286 schools that have already gone to referendum in the past two years.
Strong public schools are the backbone of a thriving community. They attract families to move here, to rent and buy homes here, to shop at our local stores, to dine at local restaurants, to become involved in community activities. Investing in our schools is a direct way to invest in the success of our kids, and also in our community as well.
Our four children graduated from DSD and I am grateful for the great education they received. I feel that all children, now and for generations to come, should have the same opportunity.
If you have any questions, our school district leaders are accessible, transparent, and eager to share details. There is also valuable referendum information on the district’s website: www.dodgevilleschools.org.
As a long-time resident and business owner in Dodgeville, I am happy to support the referendum on April 7th to keep children well educated and our community a place that I’m proud to call home.
Lauren Thuli
Dodgeville, WI