By: Will Kenneally
Published: September 7, 2022
Gov. Tony Evers continued to push for his $2 billion education funding package during a campaign stop in Janesville Wednesday.
“It’s a large ask, it’s $2 billion, but we’ve — before my time as governor — cut funding and our schools need it,” Evers said at a media availability at Van Buren Elementary School in Janesville.
The plan released Tuesday includes a wide range of K-12 education spending as well as addressing staffing shortages and allocating more for mental health resources.
“I think we are recognizing that some of the learning that doesn’t happen well is based upon mental health and behavioral issues,” Evers said.
Educators, like Van Buren principal Stephanie Edwards, see the effects of that daily.
“We’re not the experts on exactly how to handle a lot of those situations that you oftentimes have to deal with on the spot,” she said.
Evers’ plan would allocate funding for every school district in the state to have at least one staff member dedicated to mental health services. Edwards said she would welcome that, adding that there is a demonstrated need in many schools.
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