Education Committee – February 2026

Denise Gaumer Hutchison, Chair

Our next committee meeting will be Wednesday, February 18, at 3:30 via Zoom. All members are encouraged to join the meeting. Email me for the link.

School Board elections coming up!

Find out about the candidates for our local school boards. It is really important to be prepared to vote  knowledgeably in April for your local school board candidates. We have people running for school board in all of the Brown County school districts. Be watching as the League will have information about these candidates. Additionally, Howard Suamico will have a referendum on the April ballot as well. Stay in touch with our committee for more details to come!

Federal Voucher Request – you need to know the truth

“We know a Trojan horse when we see one.” That’s the warning of our Wisconsin Public Education Network (my employer), regarding the Education Choice for Children Act (ECCA) that was included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and recommended, prior to that, in Project 2025. The federal government wants to implement federal vouchers that come in the form of a contribution to grants. Such a program would reimburse (via tax credit) individuals or corporations who contribute to a “scholarship granting organization.” These “scholarships” would go to children attending private and religious schools, children from families earning up to 300% of their area’s median gross income.

Don't fall for it. Like “vouchers,” this is another way to divert property tax dollars away from public schools and to private schools. Please read this press release and find out more information about what is going on! And here’s an article we wrote to inform members of the League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay.

Legislators: Honor your vote to support public schools

In the 2025-2027 Wisconsin State Budget, the legislature committed to reimburse public schools at a higher rate than in the 2023-2025 budget. This was wonderful news to local school districts who were already struggling to make ends meet. For example, the Green Bay Area Public Schools are being forced to transfer $33 million dollars from the general fund to the special education fund to cover those costs. Increased funding (still inadequate) was to be a bit of relief.

In the 2025-27 budget legislators voted to move the reimbursement up to 42% in 25-26 and 44% in 26-27. They are now saying there is not enough money and they need to reduce the reimbursement to 34%. This is unfair and wrong - they voted on a budget, they passed the budget, and now they are not willing to meet their obligations. It is especially concerning in light of a recent report that says our state has potentially $1.3 billion dollars more in tax revenue collection than anticipated. Please talk to your legislators and ask them to reimburse at the approved $42/$44 levels. Some legislators have brought forward a bill to fix this...it just needs a hearing and a vote. Let’s get that done!