Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders are considering offering state money to help schools pay for safety upgrades in the wake of the most recent large-scale school shooting incident in Florida.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said they are looking at legislation to improve affordability as school district make improvements to buildings. The leaders met this week to discuss a number of funding proposals.
Department of Public Instruction Superintendent and Democratic candidate for Governor Tony Evers has sent a letter to Governor Scott Walker and legislative leaders asking for a special legislative session to adopt a comprehensive school safety agenda. He says DPI has been meeting with leaders around the state about school safety.
He outlines what he would like to see happen...
"...reinstate the revenue limit adjustments for school safety expenditures. We had that in place for several years. Act 28 in the 2009 year, they took it away a few years ago and we'd like to have it back. We've also asked for a large increase in the issue of mental health funding for our schools to expand it and also to provide a grant program that deals with school climate and violence...."
Senate leader Fitzgerald told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he didn't think fellow Republicans would approve Evers' request, saying they wouldn't go along with a property tax increase.
Fitzgerald also says they will be discussing Governor Walker's plan concerning Lincoln Hills, which Fitzgerald said needed more examination.
