Wisconsin Democrats want school voucher loophole closed
By: Erin Davisson
Updated: March 6, 2012
(WFRV) Menasha, Wis. - Local Democrats are calling on Republicans to fulfill their promises.
They want Assembly Republicans to close a loophole that allows for the expansion of school vouchers.
Today two local state representatives demanded Republicans take action on a bill already approved by the Senate.
It would close the loophole in the state budget that could allow the expansion of the voucher program to 37 school districts.
Oshkosh Representative Gordon Hinz (D) says, "We just found out in Milwaukee that the growth in the program is coming from students who are already paying for private school, so at the end of the day we are going to be using taxpayer dollars to pay for people who are already paying for private school."
But Kaukauna Representative Jim Steineke (R) counters, "Some of the kids are failing in public schools. I'm not saying its the fault of the public schools, but where there's an option that can help these kids, I don't think that's a bad thing. I do think we need to take this case by case."
Menasha is one of the local districts that could see school vouchers if the loophole isn't closed.
The district superintendent says he is already losing students to private schools and that vouchers could cost the district even more.
For every student a school district loses to a private school, that's less money per student the district receives from the government. Fewer dollars means a school district is limited to what it can provide or offer students.
The lack of money will also play a role in the number of staff members a school can have and its class size.
One private school parent we spoke with says private schools should not receive taxpayer dollars to educate students.
Parent Laurie Spiegel, "There are so many school cuts and things that are being taken away from the schools that is not fair and not right. If you afford to send your kid to private school and that's where you want to go, you should be responsible for paying that."
