Part 4, SASD Academic Failures: SASD Spends $159 Million Annually and Fails at the High School Level

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Wisconsin’s public schools heavily rely on taxpayer funding, with the state and federal governments sharing the financial burden. The large majority of funding comes from residents in the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s funding system aims to ensure equal opportunities for all districts, bridging the gap between those with higher and lower property values. The Sheboygan Area School District (SASD), classified as a lower property value district, receives the majority of funding from the state.

**The Cost and Funding Breakdown**

$159 million was allocated to the SASD for the 2022-2023 school year. This funding primarily stems from taxpayers’ pockets. Taxpayers living in the SASD paid $24.9 million, while Wisconsin residents not in the SASD paid $87 million to the SASD. The rest of the funding came from the federal government. The point is: If you live in Sheboygan County but are outside the SASD, you are funding the SASD!

**Academic Performance and Unmet Expectations**

Despite substantial financial resources, the academic performance of the SASD’s high schools remains deeply concerning. Per-pupil spending reveals that the district invests:

Central High School: $14,124 per student
South High School: $13,228 per student
North High School: $12,782 per student

State Report Card Data:

Central High: 27.4 (Fails to meet expectations)
South High: 41.2 (Fails to meet expectations)
North High: 56.3 (Meets few expectations)

The majority of students at these three high schools are basic or below basic in Reading, Writing and Math!

**A Broken Promise of Returns**

As taxpayers, we invest in our local school district with the expectation of a meaningful return. We anticipate that children will graduate from the SASD equipped to contribute to society.

Yet, the current reality falls far short of this promise.

Is the $24.9 million paid by property taxpayers within the SASD or the $87 million contributed by state residents truly producing an acceptable return on investment? Student achievement results shows otherwise!

**Misguided Priorities and Fiscal Deception**

SASD leadership is playing a game of deception. Instead of increasing academic scores and our return on investment, their focus has been on lowering taxes over the last two years. Here is why! SASD leadership is preparing to sell you on a referendum to build two new middle schools, estimated to cost $150 million!

Soon, you will hear the SASD pitch: We lowered taxes over the past two years. If you support this referendum, your taxes will not go up that much! In other words, the lowering of taxes was done to sell you on supporting a massive referendum to build two new middle schools!

**A Call for Accountability**

The issue at hand centers on the dire need for the SASD to be held accountable for the money entrusted to them. Before pouring more funds into a referendum, it is our duty to question whether the district can deliver a return on investment to taxpayers. As taxpayers, we demand results in student achievement and a return on our investment in the form of student achievement!

The SASD’s inability to fulfill its promises is a cause for justified anger. Spending $159 million annually, coupled with appalling academic outcomes at the high school level, highlights a broken system. As concerned citizens, we deserve better. We demand accountability and a radical shift in the SASD’s priorities.

If the SASD focused as much on Reading, Writing and Math as it does on pushing an LGBTQ-laced human growth and development curriculum, student achievement would sky-rocket! The time to act is now!

**Questions for SASD Leadership:**

Will the SASD use the lowering of taxes the past two years to sell us on supporting a massive referendum to build two new middle schools?
How does the lack of academic achievement prepare graduates to add value to our community and economy?
Why should I continue sending my kids/grandkids to the SASD which is failing to prepare them?
Why should I continue investing in the SASD with this lack of return on my investment?

SASD Leadership:

Seth Harvatine-Superintendent

Email: sharvatine@sasd.net

Jake Konrath-Internal Incoming Superintendent

Email: jkonrath@sasd.net

SASD School Board Members:

In order for board members to respond, you must email them one at a time. If you send an email to all board members, they cannot respond independently.

Mary Lynne Donohue-President- mldonohue@sasd.net

Santino Laster-Vice President- slaster@sasd.net

Kay Robbins-Secretary- krobbins@sasd.net

Susan Hein- shein@sasd.net

Ryan Burg- rburg@sasd.net

Mark Mancl- mmancl@sasd.net

Sarah Ruiz-Harrison- sruizharrison@sasd.net

Rebecca Versey- rversey@sasd.net

Heidi Boehmer- hboehmer@sasd.net

Sources for this message:

Report Card Data from DPI website: https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/reportcards/home

Per-Pupil Expenditure data from Wisconsin WiseDash Portal: https://wisedash.dpi.wi.gov/Dashboard/dashboard/22275