Pandemic School Stability Package Circulated for Co-Sponsorship
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 6, 2020
Today, Democrat Senators Larson and Smith and Democrat Representatives Pope and Considine circulated for co-sponsorship the Pandemic School Stability Package (see links below). The Package consists of two bills that address five of the agenda items from the SAA Statutory Flexibility Agenda – Pupil Counts, Transportation Aid, Fund 46 Flexibility, and Suspension of Student Assessments and School Report Cards for 2020-21. The SAA worked with the authors on the drafting of the legislation and greatly appreciates the authors’ efforts to bring attention to these important issues. Circulating the bills for co-sponsorship is an important first step in the policy development process and we welcome the continuing discussion on these proposals.
The portions of these bills addressing student assessments, school report cards, Fund 46 and transportation aid track very closely to the intent of the corresponding items in the SAA Statutory Flexibility Agenda. The proposal on student counts was the most challenging issue addressed in the legislation.
As you know, for 2020-21, the SAA recommended allowing school districts to use their 2019-20 pupil counts or their actual 2020-21 counts (whichever is larger) in determining revenue limits and aid. Making this proposal a true “hold harmless” is multi-faceted (revenue limit, general aid and per pupil aid) and very complex. The general aid portion is the most complicated because of the variables involved (property values, student counts, shared costs, etc.) in the distribution formula. It is further complicated by the appropriation being sum certain, and not sum sufficient. In order to make the general aid portion a true hold harmless, additional aid would have to be added to the appropriation. Given the need for additional aid and the uncertainty of how the proposal would impact every school district, the authors chose not to address the general aid piece in the proposal. Although the legislation is not perfect, the attention and opportunity for continued discussion it brings to this issue is critically important.
The SAA will continue to work with legislators, the Governor’s office and the DPI to push forward on the SAA Agenda through legislation, administrative rules and the state biennial budget process.
Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the children you serve. Stay tuned and hang in there, friends!
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
2019-20 Estimated School Districts State Support
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 6, 2020
From The Wheeler Report . . .
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released the 2019-20 Estimated State Support for School Districts. According to the memo, state funding was at 64.9% for 2017-18, 65.35% for 2018-19, and 65.36% for the 2019-20 school year.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications | No Comments »
Evers Administration Places New Restrictions on Indoor Public Gatherings
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 6, 2020
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers’ administration issued a new order today limiting indoor public gatherings to 25 percent of a room’s capacity, placing new restrictions on bars, restaurants and other private businesses as the state has become one of the nation’s hotspots for COVID-19 cases.
The order, issued by DHS Secretary Andrea Palm, takes effect at 8 a.m. Thursday and will remain effect through Nov. 6.
It applies to any gathering at locations open to the public, including ticketed events. But that doesn’t impact schools, office spaces, factories and other workplaces that are only accessible by employees or authorized personnel.
Evers said the order was part of an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and help hospitals that are now overwhelmed with cases.
“We’re in a crisis right now and need to immediately change our behavior to save lives,” he said.
The order relies on occupancy limits established by local governments. For those spaces that haven’t been rated by local governments, the order places a cap of 10 people on gatherings. Enforcement will also be left to local officials, though many have refused to enforce the mask mandate Evers first issued this summer. Penalties for violations include a civil forfeiture.
The exempt list also includes: local governments, religious services, political events, or invitation-only events. It also will not impact polling sites Nov. 3.
Private residences are exempt unless they host an event open to anyone.
See more here.
Read the order here.
See the release here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
DPI Updates COVID-19 Special Education Guidance
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 5, 2020
From the Legal Side…
In its most recent School Law FYI, the BoardmanClark Law Firm focuses on DPI’s recent updates to its COVID-19 Special Education Guidance.
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of the BoardmanClark Law Firm. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »
Legal Updates from Buelow Vetter
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 5, 2020
From the Legal Side…
In the past couple weeks, the Buelow Vetter Law Firm has released several important legal updates including:
- OCR Releases New Q&A Guidance for K-12 Public Schools Regarding Educating Students with Disabilities during COVID-19
- Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy Checklist
- Ensure Substitute Teachers Are Aware of Accommodations in IEPs and 504 Plans
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of the Buelow Vetter Law Firm. The information in these updates is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »