A move to increase funding for after school programs failed along party lines.
State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, introduced the motion Tuesday to the Joint Finance Committee, but a single vote defeated the proposal.
Jauch, a member of the finance committee, plans to introduce the measure to the full senate sometime in June, said Dan Kanninen, a spokesman for the senator.
Jauch's goal is to restore grants to 27 schools throughout Wisconsin that were not renewed to receive 21st Centuries Community Learning Centers grants.
Three of the schools are in Douglas County, including Northern Lights and Lake Superior elementary schools in Superior and Solon Springs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Superior's after school program students wrote to Jauch, state Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Summit, and U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, in March asking them to support state and federal funds for their after school programs.
The Superior district also has after school programs at Bryant Elementary School and Superior Middle School, which are federally funded. Funding for those programs is also uncertain for next year.
The district is still looking to the federal legislature for after school funding, said Superintendent Jay Mitchell.
Solon Springs is looking at its budget to see if the district can incorporate a modified after school program without any grant funds. The district has no other options for funding its program. If funds are not available in the district's budget, the program can't be offered, said Superintendent Gary Franciewicz.
