October 19th, 2024
By Grayson Sewell
TOWN OF JACKSON — Chair of the House Republican Conference Elise Stefanik (R-NY) visited Kettle Moraine Lutheran (KML) High School Friday as a surrogate for the Donald Trump campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
“Wisconsin is a very, very important state in the president election cycle, so [I’m] just really excited to hear firsthand about how these policies will matter and be on the ballot on election day,” said Stefanik.
Stefanik, who serves on the House Education Committee, wasn’t just in town to drum up support for the Republican candidate, however, as she visited KML specifically to learn more about the success of Wisconsin’s school choice program, specifically in how the program has succeeded in suburban and rural areas around the state.
KML started in 1973 and has been a part of the school choice program in Wisconsin since 2016, with roughly 35% of students at the school being part of the school choice program this year.
“I am proud to serve on the education committee, and education is one of the top issues this election cycle,” said Stefanik. “President Trump is so supportive of educational opportunity and educational choice, and we just heard firsthand from so many students and teachers how this model works.
“I’ve been passionate about this issue for a very long time. I’m a mom myself, we’re starting the educational journey for my 3-year-old son, and seeing schools that excel like this and understand the precious potential and the individual potential of each and every child, that’s extraordinary. That’s what we need to focus on in our education system in this country.”
During her visit to KML, Stefanik received a tour from KML President Dr. Jamie Luehring, which included viewing several classrooms, the school’s auditorium and meeting with the KML Student Council.
According to Stefanik, the visit to KML was very informative for her, as she represents a similar area in upstate New York to Washington County. Stefanik hails from Albany, New York.
“What’s been very important to me is a lot of the focus in the school choice movement has focused in urban communities, and particularly because I represent a suburban and rural area, this is informative to me to see how [KML] has been a model that works here,” said Stefanik. “It is a private school with school choice to expand opportunity. There’s a fair percentage of students that utilize the school choice program here, so there is a taxpayer-funded piece to that. That is a good model for other states to follow.”
She added that the school choice model at KML, and in Wisconsin, is an example of the policies that Republicans like herself and Trump are fighting for.
One such policy Stefanik is currently advocating for on Capital Hill is to incentivize school choice expansion through charitable giving.
“It would allow individuals who want to donate and corporations that want to make donations to expand school choice opportunities,” said Stefanik. “So, not only taxpayer-funded expansion of school choice, but also charitable contributions going towards school choice and educational opportunity.”
A critique of school choice programs is that it takes public dollars away from public schools, however, according to Stefanik, it’s important that children are able to be in schools that are right for them.
“I think every school should fit the child,” said Stefanik. “And, in each child there are strengths that are unique, and each child is blessed with different opportunities in a different setting.
“This isn’t a choice of either or, this is a choice to make sure that every single child has the best educational opportunities.”
Following her tour, Stefanik praised KML’s students, staff, facility and parents for the wonderful experience she had while visiting Friday.
“This is an amazing school, what a gem this community has. You could feel it walking through hearing the students, hearing from the teachers,” said Stefanik. “I’m very grateful for the teachers, the parents and the students, and the administrators and the great principal, who have really grown this school and grown educational opportunity for every single student here today.”
