milwaukee – On November 8th, Wisconsin voters will score their education gubernatorial candidates. About 88% of Wisconsin voters surveyed in a recent Marquette Law School poll said they were concerned about public schools.

Republican candidate for Governor Tim Michels toured Wisconsin’s oldest private school, Trinity Lutheran Freistadt School. At Trinity, her 45% of students receive school vouchers. A key part of Michels’ plan is to ensure that all students in the state qualify for vouchers. The voucher uses taxpayer money to pay for children attending private schools.

“We want to make sure that every boy and girl in Wisconsin has the choice to go to school and the opportunity to go to the school that their parents and families think is best for them.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a bill to remove income limits on vouchers.

“I’m afraid they’re taking money from public schools. They’re saying it’s a new credentialing program,” FOX6’s Jason Calvi said in an interview with Michaels.

“If you’re a public school administrator and you think you’re doing a great job, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Michels said. I know it’s not a business, but you have to approach it with a results-oriented approach, but like many schools at MPS, you should worry if you’re failing. Because we will find other options, and because we deserve to have the opportunity to find other options.”

Evers has been welcoming children back to public schools in recent weeks.

Sign up now: Receive daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

“When I took office, we worked to correct a decade of underinvestment in schools. It ranks eighth in the nation,” said Evers.

These numbers are based on US News and World Report rankings.

The Democratic governor is asking the Republican-controlled Congress to use the state’s estimated $5 billion budget surplus to spend another $2 billion on public schools.

“Over the last decade, Republicans have cut more than $4 billion from my proposed education budget as Governor and Superintendent of Education. We have a lot of work to do to fund it, do it the right way,” Evers said.

“For too long, the only indicator was how much money was spent on the budget. I invest in students, not the system. I empower parents, not bureaucracy. focuses on results, invests in what works, and improves education for all students,” Michels tweeted.

Republican legislative leaders like House Speaker Robin Voss have already rejected the governor’s latest proposals.

This year, the governor vetoed a GOP bill that would divide Milwaukee Public Schools into four to eight smaller school districts.

“It looks like we’re essentially putting our kids into pawns in the political game,” Evers said in February 2022. I don’t stand for it, and it’s offensive to me to put children in pawn positions in some kind of political chess game. ”

“Have you signed the bill to dismantle the Milwaukee Public School District?” asked FOX6’s Jason Calvi.

“Again, Jason, the devil is in the details,” Michels said. “I’ll have to look into it, but I’m certainly open to dismantling MPS.

In an exclusive interview with FOX6’s Michels, FOX6’s Jason Calvi asked him if he would accept that his local school district is mandating masks.

“The best decisions are made at the lowest level, local level, so decisions are left to the school board,” Michels says. “No state, governor’s office, or lieutenant governor’s office will tell you to wear a mask. People can decide for themselves what is best for their children at school. At Michelle’s Corporation, we Never shut down.We have found a way to get things done and keep people safe.I am 100% confident that schools, school boards and administrators can do the same. increase.”

FOX6 News also asked for a one-on-one interview with Gov. Evers, but his campaign said he was unavailable prior to the article’s publication.