Pridemore Proposes Armed Volunteers for School Patrols

DPI Superintendent Candidate Previously Voted to Strip Schools of Funding Source to Pay for Professional Law Enforcement, Security Upgrades

Madison -- Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rep. Don Pridemore has reached a new level of hypocrisy and inanity according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross with his proposal to solicit armed community volunteers to patrol schools.

Ross commented, "Rep. Pridemore not only voted to slash school funding by a record amount, but also he voted to strip our schools of flexibility under state imposed revenue limited to hire trained security personnel and upgrade security equipment to keep our children safe."

In the 2011-12 legislative session, Rep. Pridemore voted for the largest cuts to public education in state history, a loss of over $1.6 billion for public schools, and Pridemore supported repeal of the law giving school districts limited relief from state imposed revenue limits to fund the purchase of safety equipment or pay the salaries of police or trained, professional security officers as part of their school safety plan.

"The Pridemore Plan: steal our public school dollars for tax breaks for corporations and the rich and put armed volunteer militias in our schools," said Ross. "This would be laughable, if he weren't serious."

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