The underlying theme to the two hour public testimony the school board directors heard at Tuesday night's board meeting was "Raise the school tax levy to the maximum!" The roughly 125 people present at the meeting consisted of teachers, educational assistants, MTEA leaders, parents, and roughly 20 students from MTEA Executive Board member Bonnie Brusky's English class at Riverside High School. Riverside was recently recognized as being one of the top 500 high schools in the country, and in the top three high schools in Wisconsin.
The students told the board members that the MPS 2008-09 budget should increase course offerings in the Arts and specialty programs, and newer and better text books in MPS schools. Several students also mentioned they would like to see MPS offer driver's education. Many of the students also encouraged the board members to visit all of MPS' schools, so they can see what the schools truly need to keep kids wanting to go to school and be successful.
These students didn't just represent their classmates at Riverside High School. Rather these students represented all MPS students who will suffer under the current budget proposal by MPS' administration under the constraints of the school board's direction.
Most importantly, these students showcased the importance of providing a high quality education with enriching and engaging educational programs. These students spent their Tuesday night not talking on the phone or instant messaging friends online like most teenagers. Instead, these MPS students decided to spend their night participating in the democratic process and advocating for the educational opportunities they think all children in MPS deserve to have.
To paraphrase one student, "My mom wants to send me to a school in the suburbs because they have more classes. I don't want to leave MPS!"
Please attend the June 12th meeting and ask the school board to fund the programs that MPS students want and deserve so none of their parents will want to send them to another school district.
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I am teaching a class on the evening of June 12, but I will email my board member as well as the board president to plead the case for our MPS students. Remember, there is much we can do to help the cause even if we cannot attend the board meeting!
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