Edooation Aotion Grow Fomo?otion


801 West Norton, Suite 1
Muskegom MI 49444

GQNTAQT:
Mr. Kyle Olson

AMQUNT REQLEESTEQ:
RECGMMENBATEQN:
TWLE:

BQARB MEMBERS AFFELIATEQ
WETH REQUEST:

STAFF:
MEETNG RATE:
PROPOSAL 

$75,000
$75,000

To support operations in Wisconsin

Janet Riordan
2195/2201 4

20131143

 





Education Action Group Foundation (EAG) has been a resourceful and aggressive nationat partner in the
Wisconsin Network, working to educate taxpayers about the hidden costs and deais
that schooi boards and teachers' unions had been orchestrating through coilective bargaining. EAG is a
staunch advocate of parent choice and education reform, and uses the simple facts availabie in pubiic
documents to reveal the truth about the regulations and obstructions put in the path of reform.

For decades union contracts that reguired schoot districts to purchase health coverage through WEA
Trust?wall put in place through collective bargaining agreements?were costing Wisconsin taxpayers
miilions in unnecessary insurance payments Through research and a broadly-disseminated public
information campaign, EAG was instruments! in reveaiing to Wisconsin taxpayers the self?serving atiiance
between the Wisconsin Education Association Council (the teachers union, WEAC) and WEA Trust, its
affiliated insurance company. Since that time, EAG has exposed the hidden expenses of public schooi
districts; the harassment and intimidation tactics used against teachers who dissent from and the
true stories of the failures of pubiic schools in educating Wisconsin children. A partner to other grantee
Organizations EAG approaches its work with creativity and courage, seeming to take delight in engaging
with bureaucrats and apologists for bad schools.

This proposal is for a special project to move school reform forward in Wisconsin. it wilt include: an audit
of the teachers? unions around the state to determine the precise impact of new coilective bargaining iaws
on union operations; a public information campaign to broadcast the results of the audit; a 30 minute
video featuring Juan Williams on the impact of and need for school reform in Wisconsin. The combined
effect of these projects wili be to alert taxpayers to the benefits of past reforms and the need to preserve
and enlarge upon them.

EAG has a knack for getting its stories heard. its reports are regularly cited in major pubiications and
websites, including the Wet? Street Journai, Fox News, USA Today, and The Drudge Report.

The 2013 budget includes income of $1 ,409,000. $950,000 came from ?foundation grants: $285,000 from
general contributions; $75,000 from corporations. Expenses budgeted are $1,332,670. Top categories
include $700,000 for salaries, fees, and benefits; $125,000 for outreach; $75,000 for technology. The total
cost of the Wisconsin project is $229,300. It hoped that a grant from the Bradley Foundation will spur
additional support from organizations like the Kern Family Foundation. A grant of $75,000 is requested.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

A grant of $75,000 is recommended.

 

 

EE

GEant History

 

 

 

 

?psawewm
To support Wisconsin schoo? refmm efforts $63,000 2/26/2013 Reguiar
To support public education regarding $65,000 2/28f2012 Regu?ar
reform in Wisconsin

To support mt: Wisconsin chaptaz? $65,000 3.1163901 Reguiar
T0 support the Wisconsin Chapter $50,000 2:22am TE Regular
To support research and public education $70,000 81?17/2010 nguiar
(E?smm'? ??0th i? Rams; $315,000