Earlier this month, the WASB sent an op-ed piece to media outlets throughout the state on the subject of the need for inflationary increases in spendable resources for school districts. We encourage you to adapt this column to your district’s situation and share it with your local media (newspapers, radio and TV stations) and the public. 
When voters go to the polls for the April 4 Spring Election, in addition to school board races and other local government races, they will find 82 local school district referendums on the ballot in 68 districts.
Of those 82 total referendums, 53 will be operating referendums to exceed state-imposed revenue limits. Overall, 43 of those referendums will ask for temporary (or non-recurring) authority to increase the district’s revenue limit, while 10 will ask for permanent (or recurring) authority to increase the district’s revenue limit. Operating referendums will be on the ballot in 51 districts across the state. (Two districts–Elkhorn and Fort Atkinson–have two operating referenda on Tuesday’s ballot.)
In addition, there will 29 borrowing referendums on the ballot in 28 districts across the state. Borrowing referendums ask voters for approval to issue bonds for major construction, remodeling or maintenance projects for school facilities. (One district–Oconomowoc Area–has two debt issuance referendums on Tuesday’s ballot.) (more…)
On Tuesday (March 14) the state Assembly took floor action on a pair of bills relating to reporting of crimes by schools as part of a floor calendar of bills focusing on crime. Below is a description of those bills and the Assembly’s action on them.
Assembly Bill 53 – Reporting of certain crimes and other incidents that occur on school property or school transportation. [Main author: Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield)]
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, AB 53 would require public high schools and private high schools participating in a parental choice (voucher) program to collect statistics on violations of municipal disorderly conduct ordinances and certain crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, burglary, battery, and arson, that occur on school property or on transportation provided by the school. The high school must collect statistics about the crime or disorderly conduct only if: 1) it occurred on a weekday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.; 2) it is reported to law enforcement; and 3) a charge is filed, or citation is issued.
AB 53 further would require that the collected statistics be reported to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and be included on the annual school and school district accountability report (a/k/a “school and district report cards”). However, the DPI may not consider crime statistics reported by a school or school district for purposes of determining a school or school district’s performance on the annual school and school district accountability report (a/k/a report cards”).
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released its detailed summary of Governor Evers’ 2023-25 budget proposal yesterday (3/15).
Here are links to the documents:
The Senate and Assembly Education committees will hold a joint informational hearing on the subject of reading in Wisconsin schools on Thursday, March 2. Testimony at the hearing will be taken from invited speakers only. The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. in Room 412 East of the state Capitol.
View the notice for Joint Informational hearing here.
In addition, the Assembly Education Committee has issued a notice that it will hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 53 following the conclusion of the informational hearing.
View the notice for the public hearing here.