Although Gov. Scott Walker’s budget cuts on school districts early this year may be the cause of significant losses in educational positions, the cuts could also have allowed many school districts to keep or add programs, according to a recently released survey, which could assist the governor in fending off a potential recall.

The survey, conducted by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators and released by the Department of Public Instruction Thursday, said the state has cut three times the number of education positions as it did last year, losing almost 3,400 employees.

According to WASDA Executive Director Miles Turner, the number of education position cuts last year was a little over 1,000, and the previous year, about 800.

Turner said the dramatic increase in cuts was caused by insufficient funds. He said the cuts to education this year were $750 million, which ranks Wisconsin’s cuts the second highest out of 46 states for per-pupil funding.

A statement from the Wisconsin Education Association Council said the education cuts have resulted in larger class sizes and fewer student programs in Wisconsin public schools.

“Clearly, Governor Walker’s $1.6 billion education cut is having an adverse impact on our schools and students across the state,” WEAC President Mary Bell said.

Bell said even in times of economic hardship, the state has prioritized the school system, until now.

Turner also said the majority of districts have experienced bigger class sizes following the cuts.

“There is definitely an increase in class sizes being experienced throughout the state,” Turner said.

A statement from Cullen Werwie, Walker’s spokesperson, said the WASDA survey shows that the governor’s reforms are working.

Werwie said schools are staying the same or getting better.

“WASDA’s data shows that new hires outnumber layoffs and non-renewals by 1,213 positions,” Werwie said.

He also said WASDA’s survey showed more than 90 percent of school districts maintained or added to their athletic or extracurricular programs.

According to Werwie’s statement, the majority of teacher lay-offs occurred in the Milwaukee, Kenosha and Janesville districts, which were the only three not to adopt Walker’s reform policies.

John Witte, professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, said the cuts may help Walker in fending off the recall elections.

He said many of the scenarios brought up at protests in February and March of the year have not come true.

“This hasn’t been anywhere near as dire as people have said,” Witte said.

He also said class sizes have stayed about the same despite the budget cuts. He said the statewide numbers are not the case in all districts.

Witte said it is difficult to determine if the trend in cuts to education will continue. He said it depends on what school districts decide to do. For example, increasing the size of school districts may result in more cuts, he said.

He added the influence of educators and education representatives in swaying public opinion toward recalling the governor are still considerable.

He said teacher’s unions and public employees are still there in terms of the numbers they have, and the money they can bring in.

“They will play an important role in the recall elections,” Witte said.