First Referendum Bill Scheduled For Hearing
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 23, 2017
Just as I predicted to colleagues, the first of the six referendum bills has been scheduled for public hearing at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 30th – the same week that the Joint Finance Committee is likely to take up the K-12 education portion of the State Budget Bill.
SB 187 would affect an operational/revenue limit referendum resolution and ballot question if a district intends to use some of the operational referendum authority to issue debt. It is my understanding that only a relative small number of districts have used operational referendum authority for debt issuance. This bill would require the school board to include in the resolution and in the referendum question the total amount of debt to be issued, the total amount of interest and related debt service costs to be incurred, and the sum of the principal, interest, and related debt service costs.
If this bill were to pass, it would potentially be both difficult and confusing to have debt/financial information, interest and debt issuance cost information in the operational/revenue limit referendum resolution and on the ballot.
The SAA is currently preparing its testimony for the public hearing.
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Borsuk: What Surprises Do Lawmakers Have in Store for Education?
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 22, 2017
Check out Alan Borsuk’s latest insightful column about what major policy prescriptions Wisconsin lawmakers may have in store for education.
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JFC Will Not Take Up K-12 Next Week
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 19, 2017
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will meet in Executive Session on Tuesday (May 23rd) and Thursday (May 25th) next week. The JFC will take up the budgets of the state agencies listed below. Speculation is focused on JFC taking up K-12 education the week of May 29th. Stay tuned.
May 23
Program Supplements
State Treasurer
Administration — Transfers
Administration — Facilities
Medical College of Wisconsin
Higher Educational Aids Board
Educational Communications Board
University of Wisconsin System
Children and Families — Economic Support and Child Care
May 25
Building Commission
Building Program
Health Services — Departmentwide
Health Services — Medicaid Services
Health Services — FoodShare
Health Services — Mental Health, Public Health, and Other Programs
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A Rift in School Choice Movement?
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 15, 2017
I found this Associated Press article on the divisions in the school choice movement interesting. Check it out.
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School Law Update: Substantial Fault Standard for Unemployment Benefits
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 15, 2017
From the Legal Side…
The Boardman & Clark law firm recently published this School Law Update. Eligibility for unemployment benefits is rarely the driving force behind a school district’s decision to terminate an employee. However, unlike in the private sector where employers pay a payroll tax to cover these benefits, school districts reimburse the state for the entirety of their former employees’ unemployment benefits. As a result, school districts take a direct hit to their budget when employees receive benefits, so it is important that districts have an understanding of benefit eligibility.
The SAA regularly receives these updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of Boardman & Clark.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »