Educators, lawmakers talk public education funding
Local officials discussed the challenges of decreased state funding for public education and the resulting limitations on schools.
Custer, Barbian
Melissa Custer, parent and Learn in My Shoes co-founder, right, talks while Jane Barbian RUSD Board president, listens March 25 during a discussion of public education funding challenges.
Jeff Weiss
Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss said he thought public education funding would be solved in 2018 when a bipartisan state commission laid out what to do, but that has not happened, despite a $2.5 billion state surplus.
Weiss, Modder, Mason
Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss, from left, Mary Modder, KUSD Board president and Racine Mayor Cory Mason discussed public school funding issues March 25.
Jane Barbian
Jane Barbian, Racine Unified School District Board president, is a retired teacher and worries about the profession’s lackluster pay and long-term uncertainty.
Group
Mary Modder, Kenosha Unified School District Board president, from left, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine and Kari Schaefer, RUSD special education teacher were four of the people who discussed public education funding challenges March 25.
Public education roundtable March 2026
Soren Gajewski
Racine Unified School District Superintendent Soren Gajewski listens during a public education funding discussion March 25.
Modder, Mason
Mary Modder, Kenosha Unified School District Board president, center, talks while Racine Mayor Cory Mason listens March 25. Several people said adequately funding public schools is a good long-term investment because it helps develop community members and workers.
Soren, Greta
Racine Unified School District Superintendent Soren Gajewski, left, talks while Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, listens during a public education funding discussion March 25 at The Branch at 1501, 1501 Washington Ave.
Mason, Cruz
Racine Mayor Cory Mason, left, Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine and Kari Schaefer, RUSD special education teacher, were three of the people who discussed public education funding challenges March 25.
Group
Local officials discussed the challenges of decreased state funding for public education and the resulting limitations on schools on March 25. From left are Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss, Mary Modder, KUSD Board president, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine and Kari Schaefer, RUSD special education teacher.
Jane, Soren
Racine Unified School District Board President Jane Barbian, left, talks with RUSD Superintendent Soren Gajewski before a public education funding discussion March 25.
They talked about the challenges of decreased state funding for public education and the resulting limitations on schools.
