Yesterday a website called postcrescent.com posted an article detailing what has happened as a result of the law passed in Wisconsin after the heated budget debate.  The changes in collective bargaining rules for public employees went into effect yesterday, and there has already been an impact.  The budget of the Kaukauna Area School District will move from a projected deficit of $400,000 to a $1.5 million surplus due to healthcare and retirement savings. 

The article reports:

“The Kaukauna School Board approved changes Monday to its employee handbook that require staff to cover 12.6 percent of their health insurance and to contribute 5.8 percent of their wages to the state’s pension system, in accordance with the new collective bargaining law, commonly known as Act 10.

“”These impacts will allow the district to hire additional teachers (and) reduce projected class sizes,” School Board President Todd Arnoldussen wrote in a statement Monday. “In addition, time will be available for staff to identify and support students needing individual assistance through individual and small group experiences.””

If the change in the law results in smaller class sizes (which it is expected to do), isn’t that what the teachers said they wanted? 

It is interesting that this information comes out just before the Republicans face their recall election on July 12 and the Democrats on July 19.  The voters of Wisconsin will have the last word on whether they approve of the antics involved in blocking (or passing) the law which changed union collective bargaining rights for public employees.