There are many stories in the news (read them) that show increased funding does not equate, quantitatively or qualitatively, to education results. A smart board is not the panacea to a student’s education.

The issue of educators pay does not follow the story line, but I will be glad to touch on it. Increasing income without reductions in the structure of the education system is a large problem. Find for yourself the number of students per teacher ratio then locate the number of teachers to non-educators ratio in the same school system. Not all districts are behemoths and swallow vast tax dollars but many do. Next find a few school districts with great results; tangible based on student performance, and compare what you find to districts with less then stellar performance, it might surprise you.

RAF
The idea that money teaches students is ludicrous. If this was the case the lowest level student from the highest taxed areas would be better in subjects (quantitatively) than the highest level student in a lower taxed area.
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I agree that money isn't the only issue but when some districts are putting technology such as SMART Boards in every classroom while others are struggling to provide 25 computers for 400 students...money does matter.
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In the age of technology, money does matter. Plus, if you are a teacher and start in the district without technology and you make less per year...How long would you stay?
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These low budget districts have a greater turnover because teachers want to teach in the year 2009 not 1950.
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So the low budget districts are often employing young staff with a huge turnover every year, they have outdated materials and very little technology.
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Money isn't the answer but it sure would help.
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Like I said, DOUBLE the income as a starting teacher Suburb of NY versus city of NY. Where are the "best and brightest" going to end up?
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Jonathan Kozol, "Shame of the Nation"
READ IT!
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This is what any funding protests are really all about.

"If all the money was collected and then EQUALLY redistributed only a few would lose out. Most students in this state would benefit greatly."
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The idea that money teaches students is ludicrous. If this was the case the lowest level student from the highest taxed areas would be better in subjects (quantitatively) than the highest level student in a lower taxed area.

"Oh, and after 10 years plus a Master's degree and all the additional professional development required, $100,000.00 is not overpaying a teacher."

Correction, $100,000 is not overpaying SOME teachers. 10 years of experience plus a Masters degree (National Louis University anyone) mean nothing. It is the quality of the output and the results that are being achieved that matter. I am all for making teachers among the highest paid people in any community but the first step should be to insure that teachers (as with other professionals) are evaluated on an annual basis and if their performance is documented to be below standard they are terminated. Hire the best and brightest, pay them very well and demand results. Many of those currently teaching would benefit greatly and a number of others would be out of a job.

schools, in WI, and across the nation are funded UNEQUALLY.
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We do not have equal public education in this country and that is what needs to change. Referendums highlight the inequality in addition (in WI) how property value/taxes are tied directly into school funding.
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If all the money was collected and then EQUALLY redistributed only a few would lose out. Most students in this state would benefit greatly.
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Read Jonathan Kozol "Shame of the Nation", it is scary how far we HAVE NOT gone since the days of segregation and seperate but equal.(unequal).
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In NY state a teacher starting can make double, YES DOUBLE, for taking a job in a rich suburb versus in a poorer urban district.
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Oh, and after 10 years plus a Master's degree and all the additional professional development required, $100,000.00 is not overpaying a teacher.

Wisconsin schools are underfunded much like Iranian elections are free. By any measure, Wisconsin has just about the highest funding per pupil in the world.

The question is: where is the funding going? In Whitewater and many other districts, for example, teachers get over $100,000 in health retirement benefits for just 10 years of service, with those funds coming straight out of the same funds that pay for school books. It's all part of WEAC's Great Schools program!

A few years ago the Dems wanted to pass a resolution that required the state to come up with a new funding formula by July of 2009. Now that they have control of the steering wheel, what's stopping them now????