by Dan Rossmiller | Sep 21, 2020 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, Uncategorized
As we reported in an earlier blog post, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced in late August that it would be making up to 125 million cloth face masks available to states for distribution to schools. Wisconsin’s share of this distribution is to be 1.6 million masks.
At the time of our earlier blog post, it was unknown when the masks would arrive. We now have an update to report.
According to sources in touch with staff of the state Department of Health Services (DHS) and Wisconsin Emergency Management that are working on this project, the state received a shipment of cloth face masks from DHHS last week. However, the amount the state received is half of what it had been expecting and the masks that were received are sized for middle and high school students. The other half of the shipment is expected to arrive in late September to early October.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Aug 13, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, Uncategorized
Numerous school boards and their property taxpayers could be in for an unwelcome surprise when property tax bills arrive this December. This is due to errors made by the state Department of Revenue coupled with the Legislature’s failure to pass legislation to correct those errors.
This week, the state Department of Revenue (DOR) began notifying local taxing jurisdictions, including school districts, of what is likely to happen without legislative action to fix this problem.
In a blog post back in April, we detailed a letter we sent to legislative leaders urging them to pass Assembly Bill 753, which, as amended, would correct this problem. However, the Senate adjourned without taking up the bill.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Aug 8, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, Uncategorized
As school boards finalize decisions about school reopening, the DPI is collecting survey information from Wisconsin districts that have finalized their reopening plans. (See survey form.) The request for this information went out to school districts in an email to district administrators last Monday (8/3).
The survey will remain open into early September to ensure the DPI is able to capture as many board decisions on reopening as possible. Results of this survey will be published by the DPI on its website.
It is our understanding that as of Friday noon (8/7), the Department had received responses from 197 districts.
by Chris Kulow | Jul 28, 2020 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, NSBA, Uncategorized
From the NSBA National Connection:
Chalkbeat (7/27, Barnum, Darville) reports Senate Republicans introduced their coronavirus relief package Monday, which earmarks $70 billion for K-12 public and private schools. A third of that pot would go to all schools regardless of their plans for next year, but the remaining two-thirds “would only be accessible to schools if they offer some in-person instruction – something that schools in many parts of the country have decided is unsafe to do for now.” To qualify for these funds, schools will need to offer “in-person learning for at least half of their students and for at least half of the school week.” The condition placed on the funding is “a testament to the economic and political importance Republican lawmakers attach to reopening school buildings, and sets up school schedules to continue to serve as a flashpoint in the weeks ahead.” Democrats have “indicated they will strongly oppose tying funds to reopening, and education groups immediately criticized the Republican proposal.” (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Jul 9, 2020 | Federal Budget, Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Budget, State Issue, Uncategorized
Last week, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, and 17 Senate Democratic colleagues, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), introduced the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA).
The bill (numbered as S. 4112) is seen as Senate Democrats’ opening bid in the debate with Senate Republicans over providing additional COVID-19 stimulus funding for education.
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by dlinehan | Jun 4, 2020 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog, Uncategorized
Wheatland Center School recently received recognition in a national STEAM design challenge
BURLINGTON — A team from Wheatland Center School earned a second place finish in a national STEAM design challenge, according to a story in West of the i.
Students from Wheatland’s personalized learning academy, PATHS, participated in the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge, which asks middle and high school students to design solutions to the climate crisis.
Team members receiving recognition were Jaini Beck, Mason Biehn, Safyire Guthrie, Gavin Heriford, and Ronan Bacle. Students were awarded $750 to be spent on future school projects.
Wheatland’s team created a concept for protecting coral reefs from UV radiation and rising ocean temperatures that cause coral bleaching. They created a floating underwater shade structure inspired by giant lily pads and the UV-reflecting properties of spiders’ webs.
The students created “Reef Guard,” which protects coral reefs from UV radiation and rising ocean temperatures. They created a floating underwater shade structure inspired by giant lily pads and the UV-reflecting properties of spiders’ webs.
Judges said praised the team’s choice of topic and approach.
“I actually learned how the bleaching process works from their research and had not realized the algae connection. Their research is commendable, and the engineering they applied and the testing they did was very impressive.” said judge Scott Randall.
To learn more about the challenge and this year’s winners, visit their website.
The full story is posted at West of the i.
