Gannett Newspapers Announce Children’s Mental Health Series
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 7, 2016
The 10 newspapers that make up USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin are embarking on a five month series on children’s mental health. Check out the introductory article. On the heels of the powerful informational hearing yesterday before the Senate Education Committee, this series promises to bring greater visibility to this important issue.
Let’s follow it. Let’s engage on it. Most importantly, let’s continue advocating on it.
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SAA Supports “CPR” Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 7, 2016
At a public hearing before the Senate Education Committee yesterday, the SAA registered its support for Senate Bill 412 relating to providing lifesaving skills instruction to pupils.
This bill, authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski (R- Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield), requires school boards to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation in any health education course offered to pupils in grades 7 to 12 and to provide instruction about automated external defibrillators to pupils in grades 7 to 12, beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
Under current law, a school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school is required to offer instruction about cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation and to provide instruction about automated external defibrillators to pupils enrolled in high school grades.
Although the bill itself is an unfunded mandate, SAA staff worked closely with Senator Petrowski and with representatives of the American Heart Association (AHA), one of the bill’s main backers, to remove SAA objections regarding cost and flexibility. The AHA indicates it is prepared to invest $75,000–enough to provide each CESA in the state with 100 kits (mannequins and training DVDs) for use in training students. These kits could then be borrowed by districts that could not access necessary equipment through community sources (Fire, EMS, Police, Hospitals) so they could provide the required instruction.
In addition, the AHA is working on a grant proposal with CESA 7 to provide substantially more funding. If successful, this grant application would fund teacher training and provide those who successfully complete the training with kits they could take back to their districts. The grant may also include funds to cover the cost of hiring substitutes while regular teachers are receiving training. We are also encouraged by the opportunity for schools to partner with local fire/EMS and medical providers such as hospitals in an effort to reduce costs.
It is our understanding that if a school only provides the minimum instruction required by the bill (compression-only), it can be done in as little as 30 minutes and teachers will not be required to obtain any additional license or certification to do the training.
The bill has strong bipartisan support and also has the backing of Fire/EMS Chiefs, Police Chiefs and the medical community.
SAA members are encouraged to contact the SAA with any questions you may have on the SAA’s position on SB 412.
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School Law Update: Legal Considerations Regarding Transgender Students
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 7, 2016
From the Legal Side…
The Boardman & Clark law firm recently published this School Law Update that will briefly summarize relevant federal civil rights law, the decisions from OCR and the federal district courts, the proposed legislation in Wisconsin, and other relevant law and policy. In addition, it will highlight important legal issues and provide several options for districts to consider in determining how to proceed. 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.
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DPI Releases Brief Summary of ESSA
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 7, 2016
Please see this letter from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) providing a brief summary of the provisions of the new law – the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). As additional information becomes available, the department will continue to provide us with updates. But, for now, this provides a short summary of the over 1,000-page law that you might find useful.
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Committee Holds Hearing on School Mental Health
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 5, 2016
The Senate Education Committee will hold an Informational Hearing on School Mental Health on Wednesday, January 6th (tomorrow) in Room 411 South, State Capitol. The Committee will convene at 12:00 (noon) to hold a public hearing on two bills – SB 412, relating to providing lifesaving skills instruction to pupils; and SB 494, relating to an initial teaching license based on completion of a Montessori teacher education program. The Informational Hearing will be held immediately following completion of the public hearing. (See SAA News Release here.)
You might recall that, in the School Mental Health section of the SAA’s Evidence-Based Policy Agenda (2014), we noted that too many Wisconsin children have unmet mental health needs and these unmet needs have serious negative consequences for the children, their families and our communities and schools. The SAA went on to recommend Wisconsin create a School-Linked Mental Health grant program modeled after a successful initiative launched in Minnesota.
The SAA encouraged Senator Luther Olsen, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, to hold this informational hearing. We also worked with Senator Olsen and his staff on the slate of speakers which includes presentation teams from the Adams-Friendship, Baraboo, LaCrosse, and Menasha School Districts.
The SAA also arranged the appearance of noted school mental health expert Mark Sander. Dr. Sander is the Senior Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Coordinator for Hennepin County (MN) and Minneapolis Public Schools. In his testimony, he will discuss the need for school-based services as well as approaches, challenges and outcomes associated with delivering mental health services in schools.
The SAA would like to thank Chairman Olsen for his leadership in raising this important issue for information and discussion before the Senate Education Committee.
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