DPI to Hold Hearing On Scope Statement to Expand Virtual Summer and Interim Session Courses
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 21, 2020
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period to consider promulgation of emergency rules under a statement of scope amending Wis. Admin. Code ch. PI 17, relating to expanding virtual summer and interim session courses. The rule proposes to expand the grade levels in which school districts and County Children with Disabilities Education Boards may receive state aid in providing virtual instruction during summer and interim session courses.
The SAA encourages members to submit comments supporting the proposed rules.
Due to restrictions adopted because of the COVID-19 emergency declaration, the DPI will hold the public hearing via teleconference. Written comments received no later than the date of the hearing will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.
A copy of the proposed rules is available on the department’s Administrative Rules webpage or the Wisconsin Legislature Rules site. Written comment may be submitted online in lieu of testimony by April 23 using this form, or sent to the department’s administrative rules coordinator or by U.S. mail to Carl Bryan, administrative rules coordinator, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841.
WHAT: Public hearing on statements of scope for administrative rules
WHEN: Thursday, April 23, 2020 from 10-11 a.m.
WHERE: Conference call only
Phone number: 608-620-9781
Conference ID: 220 029 048#
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Shilling Stepping Down as Senate Minority Leader
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 21, 2020
From WisPolitics.com …
Dem state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, having announced she won’t seek reelection this fall, will step down from her position as Senate minority leader Friday.
Shilling said she will serve out the remainder of her term representing the La Crosse area.
“Given my recent announcement of non-candidacy, I believe new leadership in our caucus at this time will help to best represent our constituents and put Democrats in the best position to be successful in the months and years to come,” the La Crosse Dem said in a statement.
Shilling first announced earlier this month that she would not seek a fourth term in the Senate after 20 years in state politics and holding Senate Dem leadership since 2015. She is the longest-serving female legislative leader in state history.
See the statement here.
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GOP Leaders Knock Evers’ Plan to Reopen Economy
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 20, 2020
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers today announced a three-phase plan to reopen Wisconsin businesses once the state gains a greater capacity to fight COVID-19 and sees a downward trajectory in cases over a 14-day period.
But Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the moves add roadblocks to reopening the state’s economy. They vowed to continue with their pending lawsuit seeking to overturn the guv’s latest stay-at-home order.
Several of the criteria cited in today’s plan mirror the steps Evers said last week the state would need to meet before dialing back his new stay-at-home order that runs through May 26. That includes a greater testing capacity, more personal protection equipment and more capacity for contact tracing to track those who have been in contact with infected people.
Evers added the downward trajectory in both the number of flu-like illnesses and COVID-19 symptoms reported within a 14-day period as well as the positive tests of those conducted.
The trend over the past two weeks has been largely flat with occasional downturns or upticks. The number of positive tests dipped to 87 on April 13, but has been between 127 and 170 since.
The plan, which mirrors guidelines from the federal government, comes amid a backlash from businesses and others on extending the stay-at-home order for another month. At least two Wisconsin sheriffs — in Dodge and Racine counties — have spoken out against the new order. In addition, the Tavern League called for beginning to allow bars and restaurants to open May 1 with some restrictions, and GOP legislative leaders have threatened to sue.
Evers said meeting the Tavern League’s call would be a “tough row to hoe,” but offered no timeline for when the state could move through the phases.
The first phase includes allowing gatherings of up to 10 people, restaurants opening with social distancing requirements, and K-12 schools and childcare resuming full operations. The second phase would allow gatherings of up to 50 people, restaurants resuming full operation, bars being allowed to operate with social distancing requirements, and postsecondary institutions resuming operations.
The final phase includes a resumption of all business activity and gatherings with minimal protective and preventive measures.
“It’s going to be a 24-7 war on this virus, and we’re going to take it on and eventually get to the point where we can reopen the economy,” said Evers, who has dubbed the proposal the “Badger Bounce Back.”
The criteria include:
*ensuring every Wisconsin who has symptoms being able to get a lab test with results reported to public health officials within 48 hours. The administration listed a goal of 85,000 tests per week, or about 12,000 a day. Aside from the new plan, Evers also announced a partnership with the private sector has pushed the number of laboratories performing COVID-19 tests to 36 compared to eight a month ago. The effort is looking to add additional labs.
*increasing contact tracing personnel by up to 1,000 people with technology to ensure those infected or exposed can safely isolate or quarantine.
Fitzgerald and Vos rejected the suggestion that Evers’ new plan mirrors guidelines from the federal government, arguing the state needs to move toward a regional approach for relaxing restrictions.
They said the state currently isn’t using its full testing capacity. That means requiring an increase on that front only serves to delay moving beyond the current restrictions. They called for Evers to move from a one-size-fits-all approach to a regional one, adding the state needs certainty.
“As we have seen too often throughout the pandemic, the governor says something one day and the opposite the next,” the GOP leaders said. “That is why we can’t afford to withdraw our impending legal action. Too much is at stake. It’s clear one person shouldn’t be allowed to unilaterally rule over businesses, families and the state’s future.”
The new order issued today includes a severability clause stating if any piece is struck down, the rest would remain in effect.
See the release here.
See the order here.
See the plan here.
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Grading, Credit Determinations and Other Considerations for the 2019-20 School Year and Beyond
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 20, 2020
From the Legal Side…
In its most recent Legal Update, the Strang Patteson Law Firm focuses on grading, graduation requirements, grade point average calculation and other considerations for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and beyond.
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 Strang Patteson Law Firm. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
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Evers Announces Criteria to Dial Back Stay-At-Home Order
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 20, 2020
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers today announced several criteria to be met before beginning to dial back his latest stay-at-home order, including a downward trajectory in the number of influenza-like illnesses and COVID-19 symptoms reported within a 14-day period.
Evers also will be looking for a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period.
Several of the criteria Evers announced as part of what he’s calling the “Badger Bounce Back” plan match what he said last week would be needed before the state began to reopen businesses. That includes more testing capacity, contact tracing to track the spread of the disease and additional personal protective equipment.
See the release here.
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