29th Jun 2011 at 14:56 | By Collin Roth
Act 10 Allows Kaukauna To Hire Teachers, Reduce Class Sizes
By Collin Roth
Starting at 12:01 AM on Wednesday morning, Wisconsin Act 10, better known as the Budget Repair Bill, finally went into effect.
And if one listened to the rhetoric of the Left and public employee unions, today would be a dark day for public education in Wisconsin. But in an ironic twist of fate, news out of the small town of Kaukauna rocked the political landscape, exploding the Left’s myths about the Budget Repair Bill. In a Tuesday press release, the Kaukauna Area School District explained that “several significant positive impacts” accompanied the implementation of Act 10.
From the Kaukauna Area School District Press Release:
These impacts will allow the District to hire additional teachers, reduce projected class sizes from 26 students to 23 students at the elementary level, 28 students to 26 students at the intermediate/middle level, and 31 students to 25 students at the high school level. In addition, time will be available for staff to identify and support students needing individual assistance through individual and small group exercises.
Due to the law change, the Districts projected operating budget has moved from a negative $400,000 to approximately a positive $1,500,000. Earmarked in the operating budget are $300,000 related to merit pay, a program being explored for all staff for the 2011-2012 school year.
There you have it. In spite of the rhetoric and protests about the “injustice” of curtailing collective bargaining rights and the “immorality” of the cuts to public education, the Budget Repair Bill is working exactly as it was intended. Freed from the onerous demands of the unions, the Kaukauna Area School District is not only able to absorb the budget cuts but is actually able to hire teachers, reduce class sizes, and they find themselves with a surplus of $1.5 million.
In the weeks and months ahead, one can expect to hear many more stories like this one for school districts that wisely used the tools of Act 10 to balance their budget.
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Discussion | 7 Comments on "Act 10 Allows Kaukauna To Hire Teachers, Reduce Class Sizes"
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Jimmy Fredette said
Jun 29, 2011 at 4:14 PM
One district out of 426 does not a success make. They still cut 2M from their budget, and even though the teachers’ concessions will allow for more to be hired, they still took an 8% pay and benefit cut. Thank you public employees for your continued efforts!
Kerry Thomas said
Jun 30, 2011 at 3:51 AM
Let KauKauna be an example for other school districts in Wisconsin, to be accountable to the Taxpayers instead of the union officials. This new law gives local school boards the flexibility to follow Kaukauna’s lead.
Paul Ruth said
Jul 9, 2011 at 3:23 AM
Interesting. This sounds like alchemy. How can a district have its state per pupil cut and still reduce class size and end with a surplus? One thing un mentioned by this blogger is that high school teachers agreed to work an extra period. So in other words high school teachers accepted a cut in pay of about 16%, along with their 12.6% increase in insurance premiums and their 5.8% vig for their pensions. One need only to look at the Districts own budget projections and potential remedies to see staff cuts were on the way. That a group of employees agreed to have the budget short fall balanced on their backs really shows how a small time community with monopsony power can create a situation where fewer employees(or same number are made to produce more output) will be hired at a lower wage. For a theoretical backdrop on monopsony power pick up a beginning Econ text or goggle Joan Robinson. This blogger spews the same warmed over neo-classical orthodoxy that hasn’t worked for the average worker since it began being promoted back in the early 70′s by Milton Friedman. That the school district is going to take advantage of their bargaining position is a pitiful example of how low our society has sunk.
Toby said
Jul 9, 2011 at 3:50 AM
You have some serious issues if you think that holding teachers accountable for the effort they put into their job means that society has sunk. Don’t forget if they don’t like what is happening they are more than able to find a job that is more suitable to their work ethic. Good Luck!
Cheri said
Jul 13, 2011 at 12:59 PM
I guess that the fact that there were over 400 applications for one open teaching position in this district means that those teachers were ready to jump on that sinking ship. Heaven forbid there will actually be some accountability in the teaching profession along with rewarding good teachers with merit pay…wow that sounds like an excellent remedy to me!! And whoever doesn’t want to work in that district…there are many standing in line to take your job!!