The Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) has announced that several state officials arrived at Lakeview Elementary School recently to present the district with a “record-breaking” annual distribution of more than $80,000.
Among those arriving to make the presentation last Tuesday were State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Sen. Janis Ringhand, Rep. Don Vruwink and State Librarian Tessa Michaelson Schmidt.
Monies were awarded from the Common School Fund, according to the release.
In addition, WUSD and community leaders were present for the presentation, the release stated.
According to information provided by the school district, “This visit comes after State Treasurer Godlewski, who serves as chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) and oversees the $1.3 billion Common School Fund, announced that the BCPL’s effective management of the fund has resulted in another record-high distribution of $40.6 million for public schools in every corner of the state. Whitewater Unified School District will receive $81,186 to focus on funding books and technology.
“Our kids are our future, and I am proud that the diversified investment strategy of the BCPL has provided this record-breaking distribution to make sure they have what they need to thrive in our public schools. Despite the economic challenges of the past few years, the BCPL has been able to invest wisely to provide these critical resources for our K-12 public school libraries. Whether it’s addressing the digital divide or building literacy skills, it’s great to see how these funds are making a difference,” Godlewski was quoted as saying in the release.
About the Common School Fund
According to the release, “The Common School Fund is a crucial source of revenue for school libraries, and this distribution provides the sole source of funding for over 90% of public school libraries. Earnings from the BCPL’s investment portfolio are distributed annually to every public school district in Wisconsin to enhance students’ educational experience and to help them gain access to books and technology, which are key to their success.”
“Ensuring our students have access to the books and technology they need is essential to helping them reach their full academic potential,” Schmidt stated within the release.
“The Department of Public Instruction is grateful for the BCPL’s wise stewardship of the Common School Fund, which provides these essential dollars to public school libraries across Wisconsin. Whitewater Unified School District is excited for the opportunities that this $81,186 in literacy-focused funding from the Common School Fund and State Treasurer Godlewski will bring. This funding will support and cultivate students’ love of reading, and support increasing the use of technology in our district’s libraries. New digital platforms along with multimodal learning are daily occurrences in our libraries engaging our wide variety of learners. Our community is ever-changing and it is our role as educators to meet those changes head-on and provide for our families. The Common School Funds provided by the State of Wisconsin help us provide these new and improved opportunities for all of our students,” Whitewater Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, was quoted as saying within the release.
About the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands
According to the release, “The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), chaired by State Treasurer Godlewski, oversees $1.3 billion in state trust funds. This includes the Common School Fund, which makes annual distributions that fund books and technology for every school district in the state. As part of her role as board chair, the State Treasurer has prioritized Wisconsin investments and has integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into the investment strategy. One of her first actions as board chair was to roll back a climate change gag rule which prevented staff from discussing climate change and how it impacted investments.
“In today’s low-interest-rate environment and with the uncertainty of the financial market, this level of distribution would not be possible if the Trust Fund remained invested solely in loans and bonds, as required under statute from 1848 through 2015. The updated investment strategy has led to the diversification of the Common School Fund that added millions to future distributions and will continue to pay dividends to Wisconsin schoolchildren for generations to come. In the last biennium, the BCPL has made $570 million in new portfolio investments, which includes $165 million for financing essential economic development, infrastructure, and other community projects and purchases in Wisconsin.”
Several state officials and members of the Whitewater community gather at Lakeview Elementary School to participate in a presentation and receive a check for more than $80,000. Among those in attendance at last Tuesday’s presentation were State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, not in pictured order, Sen. Janis Ringhand, Rep. Don Vruwink and State Librarian Tessa Michaelson Schmidt. Also pictured are City Manager Cameron Clapper and Whitewater Unified School District Superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty, among other local and school district officials. Monies were awarded from the Common School Fund. Photo submitted by the Whitewater Unified School District/Tom Ganser photographer.
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