by Chris Kulow | Aug 30, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, WASB
The Wisconsin Association of School Boards has concerns that a
proposed school finance dashboard may exclude data on private schools that directly impacts public school district budgets and taxpayers.
2021 Wisconsin Act 89 requires the Department of Public Instruction to create an online portal that displays financial data for public schools, including independent charter schools. The WASB supported the legislation that became 2021 Act 89 to provide the public with transparency in school budgeting.
School district funding and finances are complex, and creating a user-friendly, simple portal for the public is no easy task. To accomplish this, the act created an 11-person advisory committee to advise DPI on the portal’s development, including recommendations on what information would be featured. The committee was made up of six Republican appointees, three Democratic appointees and two appointees by State Superintendent Jill Underly. The committee included state Sens. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) and Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville). (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Aug 1, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
When WASB members ask about how the WASB’s legislative priorities are set, we point them to the WASB Resolutions Book. Resolutions adopted by the annual WASB Delegate Assemblies set the policy direction for the WASB and its lobbying efforts. The WASB resolution process is meant to be member-driven. Each member board has an opportunity to put its imprint on the WASB’s policies. The process begins when member boards submit resolutions proposing new language or changing or repealing existing resolution language. Those board resolutions must be submitted to the WASB by Sept. 15.
Please keep this in mind as you set board agendas for your August and September board meetings. For more background information on the resolutions process and guidance about submitting resolutions, please refer the Delegate Assembly webpage.
Once adopted, those resolutions remain in effect unless amended or repealed. That means resolutions can, at times, become outdated or no longer reflective of positions that a majority of WASB member boards currently hold. We encourage WASB member boards to review the resolutions carefully.
by Chris Kulow | Apr 26, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, WASB
The
State Bill Tracker for the 2023-24 session of the state legislature is now up on the WASB website.
This chart features state legislation the Government Relations team are tracking during the legislative session, including if the WASB has taken a position and the relevant WASB resolution(s). The bills are listed in numerical order with Assembly Bills first followed by Senate Bills.
Access the tracker here: https://wasb.org/advocacy-government-relations/wasb-bill-tracking-chart
by Chris Kulow | Feb 23, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
The Government Relations team will begin their state budget-focused webinar series
Capitol Chat on Friday, February 24 at noon. These will be shorter weekly webinars every Friday at noon primarily focusing on developments at the Capitol with an opportunity to ask questions. We plan to record these webinars for those who are not able to watch live.
by Chris Kulow | Feb 9, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
The Government Relations team will begin their state budget-focused webinar series
Capitol Chat on Friday, February 24 at noon. These will be shorter weekly webinars every Friday at noon primarily focusing on developments at the Capitol with an opportunity to ask questions. We plan to record these webinars for those who are not able to watch live.
You can access the Capitol Chat webinars on our NEW
State Budget Webpage (among other places). The webpage has been redesigned in a more user-friendly format and includes:
(more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Feb 2, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
The resolutions adopted by the 2023 WASB Delegate Assembly on Jan 18 have been posted on the WASB website. You can access that document HERE.
Resolutions adopted by the annual Delegate Assemblies set the policy direction for the WASB and its lobbying efforts. Once adopted, these resolutions remain in force unless amended or repealed.
More information can be found on the Delegate Assembly website.
