Thank you chairpersons Burke and Gard and members of the Joint Finance Committee for this opportunity to speak today about issues contained in Governor McCallum's proposed 2001-2003 budget bill. My name is Stan Johnson. In Wisconsin, we've achieved great success in building great schools. By virtually every measure, Wisconsin schools rank among the finest in the nation.
Students learn here.
They graduate here. They go on to get jobs here, keeping our state's employment rate among the highest in the nation and attracting new employers to our communities. Building great schools requires consistent effort and hard work, and we face greater challenges today than ever before. That is why educators across the state are dedicated to working with our elected officials, parents, administrators and communities to create the kind of education that is best for all of Wisconsin's children. We believe that many provisions contained in Governor McCallum's budget will put our great public schools at risk.