Appleton schools have a lot to be proud of, a lot to worry about
The fact is, state funding for public education has not kept pace with inflation over the past 16 years. The district is currently facing an $11 million deficit, forcing AASD to dip into its reserve fund.
There are undeniable challenges facing public school districts all across Wisconsin and they have only become more critical given the current political climate. Nevertheless, Appleton Superintendent Greg Hartjes also says there is plenty to celebrate.
Hartjes says that the Appleton Area School District has a great story to tell even in the face of all those funding headwinds. It’s especially impressive, Hartjes says, given that the Covid shutdowns from just four years ago threatened to create a learning backlog that some predicted would take years to overcome.
“Our class of 2024 had our highest graduation rate in six years,” he boasts, noting the nearly 88 percent graduation rate. Students with special needs, students who are English learners; and many economically challenged students graduated at a much higher rate than in previous years.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin public schools have risen to sixth in the nation. Appleton itself was recognized in a national study as being among the three best districts in the state whose third-through-eighth grade students are actually scoring higher in math and reading than before the pandemic. More impressive yet, Hartjes notes, the two districts that ranked above AASD, Howard-Sumiaco and Elmbrook, are two of the most affluent districts in the state.
“No other district of our size and with our student population in the state is having the success we are,” he says.
But Hartjes isn’t done. He goes on to note that family satisfaction rates are the highest since the surveys began six years ago. More than eighty percent of families agreed or strongly agreed that children and their families are treated with respect by their schools; that the staff demonstrated a genuine concern for the child; that their child’s learning is a high priority; and that AASD schools maintain a safe and respectful environment conducive to learning.
“On this last one, we are nowhere near where we want to be,” he says. “We have a lot of work to do before we will be satisfied with our learning environments.”
Finally, among some of the other positives Hartjes cited, was Houdini Elementary, which was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the federal government – the first in 10 years to be so honored in Appleton and one of only eight among Wisconsin schools. And Highlands and Odyssey principal Kari Krueger was named elementary principal of the year in Wisconsin.
But Hartjes also understands the realities AASD and school districts around the state are facing, especially around funding needs. The fact is, state funding for public education has not kept pace with inflation over the past 16 years. The district is currently facing an $11 million deficit, forcing AASD to dip into its reserve fund.
“Without state investment, this is not sustainable,” Hartjes says. AASD will be looking at even closing a school. This is the reality for most school districts around the state.
Hartjes says one solution is to increase special education funding, which has fallen from 70 percent to less than 30 percent today. Meanwhile, voucher schools are reimbursed at a full 90 percent. Approximately 10 percent of a district’s general education fund must be transferred to cover mandated special education services, creating a real squeeze on school budgets and learning opportunities for all students.
School administrators at a recent budget listening session echoed Hartjes’ concerns. For Oshkosh, for instance, this mandate amounts to $18 million a year, while Menasha must transfer up to $7 million to fill the gap.
Hartjes says he has no problem with vouchers for private schools, but that there needs to be transparency so taxpayers know how much they are paying for these subsidies. He added that the demographics of students with priority needs in voucher schools should be similar to those in public schools.
“Currently,” he says, “students who have difficulty learning or who cost more to teach remain in public schools and this creates a funding problem.”
While Gov. Tony Evers has declared this “The Year of the Kid” and proposed a budget that includes much-needed investments in K-12 schools that address everything from students with disabilities to English learners to mental health and literacy, it seems unlikely the Republican-controlled legislature will support many of these proposals.
The other looming concern comes from President Trump’s threat to disband the Department of Education – created by President Carter in 1979 – and the many executive orders he has issued around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Immigration Customs Enforcement visits to campuses. These have created uncertainty, Hartjes says. He expressed concern that political rhetoric is creating anxiety and ”kids are scared.”
“But an executive order is not law,” he says. “And we will always follow the law.”
Other uncertainties regarding federal government policy include the potential loss of federal grants for after-school programs, funding for high-poverty schools, and grants for the Hmong American Immersion School and the Ormolade Academy.
Through it all, Superintendent Hartjes holds fast to the mission statement by which he and the district are guided.
“Working together,students, families, staff and community will ensure that each graduate is academically, socially and emotionally prepared for success in life. Every student. Every day.”
