by Chris Kulow | Apr 3, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, WASB
The WASB recently sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos detailing our positions on K-12 related provisions in Governor Evers’ COVID-19 legislative proposal.
First, the WASB opposes provisions restricting layoffs and requiring school districts to continue to pay employees during school closures for a public health emergency on local control grounds.
Given the widely reported issues schools are having with finding an adequate supply of teachers and other school personnel, we want to make it clear that school boards and districts value their employees. And while we understand not wanting to put people out of work, local school boards and district administration must have maximum flexibility to navigate school closures due to this pandemic and to utilize resources to maximize student learning primarily through online applications. To facilitate this new educational programming, a district may need to add staff in one area or reduce staff in another area. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Mar 25, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
We have scheduled a WASB webinar about developments related to COVID-19 for Thursday, March 26 at 11 a.m.
WASB attorneys will be answering some of their most commonly received questions, especially about the process to request a DPI waiver for instructional hours (link goes to form to request waivers) and the governor’s safer-at-home order.
The order requires all people in Wisconsin to stay home or at their place of residence, except for specific functions and activities defined in the order. It is effective at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25 until Friday, April 24 or until a superseding order is issued. WASB staff are currently reviewing the specifics of the order and will provide additional information regarding its application to school boards and districts as soon as the information can be clarified.
Tuesday’s additions to the WASB COVID-19 resource page include: (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Mar 16, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
On Tuesday, March 17 at 1 p.m., WASB staff attorneys will host a live video webinar to provide a legal update regarding recent developments pertaining to school, employment and governance due to COVID-19 (coronavirus).
We will send out a link to the webinar tomorrow morning and post it on our COVID-19 resource page. The webinar will be complimentary and require no registration.
Our attorneys have already recorded a separate video describing some of the employment and governance issues raised by the outbreak.
In addition, we encourage members to follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts to stay updated.
by Chris Kulow | Mar 13, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
Today’s complimentary webinar about communicating during a crisis has been moved back by one hour, to 2:30–3:30 pm today, March 13.
The webinar will focus on communicating during a crisis. It will not provide details specifically on the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information specifically about the current outbreak, please refer to the Hot Policy Topic “Coronavirus” page on the WASB website. It is best practice to have one recognizable face throughout a crisis so be sure to have whomever will be your spokesperson on the webinar for these helpful tips.
To join the webinar, use this link shortly before the webinar begins. Click on “Join Audio by Computer” to listen in. If you are having problems hearing the audio on your computer, you can also call 929-205-6099 and enter Webinar ID: 135486582 to listen by phone. Complete webinar access instructions are available here. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Jan 29, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
The resolutions adopted by the 2020 Delegate Assembly on Jan 22 have been posted on the WASB website. You can access that document HERE.
More information can be found on the Delegate Assembly website.
by Chris Kulow | Jan 27, 2020 | Legislative Update Blog, WASB
The slides for our Legislative Update presentation at the State Education Convention have been uploaded to the blog and can be accessed HERE.
