WESTON, WI (WSAU) – Governor Tony Evers stopped by Weston on Wednesday afternoon to tour the local YMCA and see firsthand how state funds were being used in the classroom.
Evers met with facility leaders and teachers to get a look at what the day-to-day looked like and to get an idea of what organizations like theirs will need going forward.
He spoke about the importance of ensuring that childcare centers get the funding and support that they need, saying, “Our economy is absolutely dependent on a strong childcare workforce and organizations, so it’s great to see what’s going on here; they did a great job during the pandemic, and I’m glad we were able to provide resources to help pay people more but also improve much-needed equipment.”
When asked about his biggest takeaways from today’s visits, Evers stated that maintaining the quality of the centers and schools remains a top priority of his. He continued by saying that organizations like the YMCA will not be able to continue being high-quality if they can’t afford the staff or lack the resources needed to be successful. Evers referenced a recent visit to a center in northern Wisconsin that would’ve had to close if it weren’t for the funding and resources being provided.
This visit comes a month after Evers faced criticism for editing a plan in the state budget to boost the amount of funds K-12 public schools can raise per student by $325 every year until 2425, and when asked about that decision, he said, “At the end of the day, we have the resources, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t invest in childcare. I feel confident that we will be able to make some progress on this, and it’s just a matter of people contacting their legislators to say that they see the value of early childcare and education.”
Back in June, a Marquette Law Poll found that 66% of respondents were satisfied with the public schools/public childcare facilities in their community, while just 31% were dissatisfied. However, the poll also found that support for increased school funding fell below support for property tax reductions for the first time since 2013 by a margin of 49% to 47%.
The poll also referenced that in the fall of 2018, support for school spending increases was at 55%, and by last October, that number had dropped by seven points to just 48%.
