School Board Adamant that UWM Charter School Be Vetoed

The Wauwatosa School Board voted unanimously Monday night to forward a resolution to Gov. Scott Walker asking him to use his veto power on a budget item that would allow a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee charter school in Wauwatosa.

Members of the board called the proposed expansion of non-district charter schooling into Wauwatosa "A rather extraordinary measure" and "a major hit" for public schools.

Up to now, charter schools independent of public school districts have been permitted by law only in the cities of Milwaukee and Racine.

The school in question is the Forest Exploration Center's proposed University Lab School, intended to be located in the historic Eschweiler Buildings on the County Grounds.

UWM has indicated that it would approve a charter for the school later this year – assuming the Legislature acts to expand its ability to charter outside the City of Milwaukee.

School Superintendent Phil Ertl said before Monday's vote that when the issue was not brought to the floor of the Legislature, he thought it was off the table – only to learn lately that it would be among many policy items inserted into the state budget bill by the Legislative Joint Finance Committee.

"I was assured that this wasn't going to happen," Ertl said. "I was surprised to see this."

At issue is the loss of per-student aid, about $7,000 per student enrolled, that would move with any child who transferred from Tosa schools to the university school.

"It goes well beyond the FEC charter school," Ertl said, because the budget proposal does not limit UWM to only the FEC.

Board members Phil Kroner and Sharon Muhlfeld underlined that.

"UWM will retain the ability to create charter schools in Wauwatosa," Kroner said, as well as in other districts outside Milwaukee. The Legislature, he said, is "eroding our ability to manage our own district."

"This is far-reaching arm for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee," Muhlfeld said. "This is not in their portfolio."

Ertl said he was alarmed by the change of precedent suggested by the proposal. Charter schools, he said, were created in districts that could not measure up to public standards for education – in short, failing schools.

"Ours are not failing schools," Ertl said. Moreover, he said, Wauwatosa's citizens have made it clear they want and insist on a neighborhood schools model – so that if students, and the aid dollars they bring, are drawn off, Tosa will still have to keep as many buildings open and programs running as it does now.

"The School Board has chartered schools," Ertl said. "We are open to alternative ideas. This is taking money from us and giving it to another public entity. There is risk associated with added space."

"This will be a major hit," board member Mary Jo Randall said.

Board President Michael Meier, with the final word, did not veil his feelings.

"This is about empire-building by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee," he said.

Meier told how for a century, every member of his family, through to him and his children, has attended and graduated from Wisconsin public schools and universities – and in more than one case gone back in as teachers.

"For 100 years my family has been participating in that partnership," Meier said. "This is a breach of that partnership.

"It breaks every tradition – setting up a separate public school system in Wauwatosa."