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Legislative Update


Niehaus selected to study committee on shared school district services

by | Jun 6, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

The committee members for the 2022 Legislative Council Study Committee on Shared School District Services have been announced including WASB Member Services Director Ben Niehaus. As a former superintendent and administrator in northern Wisconsin, Ben has a great deal of experience utilizing shared service agreements including serving as a shared superintendent for two school districts. We are appreciative that he was selected to serve and will be able to share his experiences with the committee.

To help Ben prepare for his role, we are asking school leaders to share some examples of areas where you are already cooperating and sharing services with other school districts. We feel it is important for lawmakers to know to what extent this is already happening. If you are willing to share, please email Ben at bniehaus@wasb.org.

The full committee roster:

  • Representative Rob Brooks (Chair)
  • Senator Dan Feyen (Vice-Chair)
  • Lance Bagstad – Superintendent, School District of Arcadia
  • Senator Janet Bewley
  • Representative Dave Considine
  • Jeffrey Dellutri – Superintendent, Fox Point-Bayside School District
  • Bobbie Guyette – Director of School Nutrition, New Richmond School District
  • Ted Neitzke – Administrator, CESA 6
  • Ben Niehaus – WASB Member Services Director
  • Tara Villalobos – Superintendent, Holy Hill Area School District

The study committee is directed to review current barriers to shared administrative or other services between school districts, and explore statutory changes or creation of incentives to encourage efficiencies. The committee shall consider methods for sharing or consolidating services such as district-level administration and personnel, purchasing, technology and data processing, transportation, food service, and building maintenance and make recommendations for legislation. As part of its work, the committee shall study school district structures employed in other states, particularly county-wide school district models.

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