A student’s zip code shouldn’t determine the quality of their education. To that end, and following a unanimous vote at its March 22 school board meeting, the Stanley- Boyd School Board voted to join the Association for Equity in Funding, a lobby group that seeks to level school funding for all.

So why the need for a lobby group in Madison? Frozen student reimbursement, pursuant to an old law.

Many, many years ago—near 30 or so by now—the law was codified at the state level for how school districts were to be funded. Unfortunately, the standards were frozen at that time, meaning that schools who were being well-managed and in need of less outside funding, Almost 30 years on, this has led to wild disparities in the amount of money that districts receive per pupil for education, ranging from below $10,000 to over $15,000, with $11,450 the state average. As to the local area, Superintendent Jeff Koenig shared that there was a $2,000 difference between what Cadott was given per pupil by the state versus Stanley-Boyd at $10,000, the funding difference being in Cadott’s favor. Stanley-Body was tied with 150 of the state’s 421 school districts, the number stated at the Department of Public Instruction. Of those 421 districts, meanwhile, just one (Milwaukee) is classed as a “first class city district,” the others split by classification between “common,” “unified,” and union high.” Whereas Stanley-Boyd falls under the “unified” designation per the state definition system, Cadott, Thorp and Gilman are “common.” So how to level the unequal funding outcomes that can result from separate classifications?

One way, pursued successfully in the past by the Association for Equity in Funding, is to sue the State of Wisconsin—with a funding appeal to cover court costs as the catch. No such thing, as a free lunch.

In addition to the $500 membership fee to join the Association for Equity in Funding, $400 extra was being asked to help it prepare for another lawsuit by the Association, it was shared at last month’s school board meeting. Board member Chad Verbeten liked the former price for lobby group membership on the district’s part, but not the additional $400 sought.

“I’d have to see what we get,” he said in making a motion to approve the district joining the Association as such but without the $400 tacked on. Seconded by Denise Hoffstatter in this, the motion then passed on a roll call vote by meeting recorder Jeff Koenig, with board member Jeff Boie the sole negative vote.

The board then moved into routine approval of the consent agenda, motion made by board member Ryan Lewallen and seconded by Toni Seidl.

Meanwhile and earlier at the March school board meeting, another question had presented itself: should the Stanley- Boyd School District join WIRSA, the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance? Area One school board representative Chad Verbeten shared his thoughts on the matter as well.

“I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is, are we going to use the resources they offer?” he said during a presentation by Superintendent Jeff Koenig March 29 on whether the district should join the advocacy group. Board member Lance Carlson shared his thoughts that joining seemed worthwhile, also provided that it be used, as it was additionally noted that other school districts in the area are members. So what are those potential resources, and their cost? The Wisconsin Rural School Alliance website at wirsa. org, has more.

“The 2020 WIRSA Conference has been cancelled,” the website announces, telling visitors to save the date for the 2021 Conference from October 24th through the 26th at the Wilderness Conference Center down at Wisconsin Dells. Calls for proposal information are now going out, per the website.

As to actual services offered, WIRSA “was formed to help rural school districts address the unique issues that affect rural schools as they strive to achieve the highest quality education of every student.” Founded by 13 members in 2011 who saw that rural schools were being underserved, perks of membership include a scholarship opportunity (deadline already passed for 2021), further details being divided into nine separate articles for WIRSA’s bylaws. Among them is Article II, Section 1, which stipulates a board of twenty “natural” persons, not stipulating what “natural” means (although corporations can be legal persons in terms of law elsewhere, based on Latin “corpus,” or “body”).

Each member of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, meanwhile, has one vote, with full members being those representing institutions “who have paid the entire cost of membership as established by the Board of Directors.” Although no set amount is stipulated in the organizational bylaws, the membership year is stipulated to be the same “as the fiscal year of the business of the alliance.” Meaning that if nothing else, the Stanley-Boyd School District will now be allied with others in pursuit of common goals, stronger together than apart—pursuant to dues being paid.

The Stanley-Boyd School Board, shown here, sitting at its March meeting, decided to join the Wisconsin Rural School Alliance, among other business last month. Here, the board faces east, with members from left being Chad Verbeten; Toni Seidl; Ryan Lewalllen; Denise Hoffstatter; Board President Bob Geist; Lance Carlson; and Jeff Boie. Just beyond Boie are Superintendent Jeff Koenig and Middle School Principal David Ludy. Staff photo.