School Funding Commission to Hold Hearing Friday
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 30, 2018
As we first reported last week, the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding will hold a public hearing at 10:30am on Friday, February 2nd at the James Madison Academic Campus, 8135 W. Florist Avenue, Milwaukee.
The Commission will hear testimony from invited speakers including representatives from Milwaukee Public Schools, Southeast Wisconsin Schools Alliance and School Choice Wisconsin. Following the invited speakers, members of the public will be able to share their thoughts with the Commission. This public testimony will be limited to 5 minutes for each speaker. The hearing will conclude at 4:00pm.
SAA members interested in testifying during the public testimony portion of the hearing are encouraged to contact the SAA with any questions they may have or for assistance with their testimony. Stay tuned. The SAA will keep members informed of Commission developments.
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New Web Page for School Funding Commission
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 30, 2018
The Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding has a new web page designed to share information with the public on the work of the Commission. Check it out here.
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SAA Supports AB 835 at Hearing
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 26, 2018
The SAA testified in support of Assembly 835, relating to increasing sparsity aid and the low revenue ceiling for school districts. The SAA also raised concerns about the “failed referendum” provisions of the bill.
Twelve SAA members delivered testimony in support of the bill including the following: Superintendents Tonya Olson (Waupun), Kevin Bruggink (Oostburg), Mike Trimberger (Random Lake), Shawn McNulty (Mukwonago), Craig Gerlach (Stevens Point), Bryce Bird (Riverdale), Ron Saari (Potosi); Business Managers Brian Walters (Marinette), Andrew Chromy (Oak Creek-Franklin), John Stellmacher (Hartford J1), Mike Gerlach, (Fond du Lac), and Tom Karthauser (Mukwonago). Superintendent Patrick Rau (Bonduel) testified for information on his district’s failed operating referendum and the impact of the “failed referendum” provision on his district. Superintendent Carrie Dassow (Plymouth) also registered in support of the bill.
There was no opposition to the bill at the hearing. The SAA will keep the membership informed of any developments on this important legislation. If you have not yet contacted your legislators in support of the SAA position, please consider doing so soon. Stay tuned.
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LFB Prepares Memo for School Funding Commission
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 26, 2018
At the December 14, 2017 meeting of the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, a number of questions arose regarding school district revenue limits, funding, mill rates, special education aids, and boundary modifications.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) has prepared a memo that addresses those inquiries. I found the memo very interesting. Check it out here.
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Representative Kremer Not Seeking Reelection
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 24, 2018
From WisPolitics.com …
GOP Rep. Jesse Kremer announced yesterday he’s not running for re-election later this year.
Instead, he said on the Assembly floor he’ll begin work as a commercial airline pilot, a job he had held before joining the chamber. But he told WisPolitics.com he intends to finish out his term.
The Kewaskum Republican has authored controversial pieces of legislation including a transgender bathroom bill and the so-called campus free speech bill.
But he said he regrets not doing enough to protect the unborn, including passing a bill that would impose a blanket prohibition on acquiring, providing or using a fetal body part from an abortion, which has stalled in committee.
Another regret, Kremer said, is failing to pass legislation to “protect our schools from mass maniacs.” That, his office said, refers to a bill he co-authored that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry guns on school grounds.
Kremer said while he’s not “irreplaceable,” he hopes “that I have made some sort of mark on this body.”
“We can make what we want of our offices, and I hope I was not one to take a backseat,” he said.
Kremer was elected to the 59th AD in 2014.
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