Finance Panel OKs $639 Million More In School Funds, Other Changes

State finance Republicans have endorsed the governor’s proposed 639-million dollar increase in state school funding for the next two years. On a 12-4 vote, with all Democrats voting no, the G-O-P also added several controversial measures into the school portion of the new state budget that’s almost two months late in being adopted. School districts would be limited to two referendums a year, and only on election days that are otherwise scheduled. The panel also adopted higher family income limits to get tax funded vouchers for private schools outside of Milwaukee and Racine — teachers and administrators could get lifetime state licenses after three years with provisional licenses — U-W and tech schools throughout the state could start charter schools — and Racine’s suburbs would be allowed to break away from the city’s unified school district if they choose. The finance panel is expected to finalize the budget at its next meeting next Tuesday.