Budget Alert: Joint Finance Committee
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 13, 2015
I want to thank each and every one of the SAA members that have contacted their legislators in support of the SAA’s positions on the Governor’s education budget proposals. So many districts have done such an outstanding job of crafting and implementing a communication plan for influencing your parents, your staff, your community, your media and your legislators. Your efforts are paying dividends. Increasing numbers of Republican legislators continue to voice their concerns about the Governor’s revenue cap freeze as well as his $150 per pupil cut in the first year of the biennium.
But, the battle is far from over. It’s a very long budget process (lasting in to June) and many legislators believe they can simply wait us out and we won’t be able to sustain the fight.
So, again, I want to thank all of you for contacting your legislators. For those of you that have yet to lobby your legislators, please do so ASAP. To be successful in this fight, all SAA members must contact their legislators repeatedly throughout the budget process.
As you know, the Joint Finance Committee will hold the first of four public hearings on the proposed budget beginning Wednesday, March 18th. In this stage of the budget fight, you can have an impact in two ways. First, if you are interested in testifying at one of the budget hearings, please let me know so I can help coordinate the arrangements for your testimony.
If you cannot or choose not to testify at the budget hearings, it is vitally important that you collaborate with your district’s administrative team on a strategy to contact the 16 members of the Joint Finance Committee and your own legislators in support of the SAA positions on the budget. You can send a letter (phone calls work too) to JFC members and your legislators using the information in this alert and the talking points. I know that many of you have already contacted your legislators, and I thank you. I also ask that you contact them again.
For your convenience, I have provided contact information for JFC members as well as links to the Senate Directory, Assembly Directory and Who Are My Legislators.
This budget contains many proposals that impact every school district in the state. But, for now, it is vitally important that we focus on school funding, voucher expansion, charter school expansion and the Local Government Property Insurance Fund.
For SAA Talking Points on School Funding, Voucher Expansion, Charter School Expansion and the Local Government Property Insurance Fund see here.
The stakes are huge in this budget battle. So, let’s fight for everything that is good in public education. Let’s fight for all the reasons we made education our life’s work. But, most importantly, let’s fight for the children we serve today…and for those we will serve tomorrow.
Thanks for listening, and thanks for all your efforts on behalf of Wisconsin school children.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications | No Comments »
More District Budget Letters, Resolutions, News Coverage
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 12, 2015
School districts continue to reach out to their communities, legislators and the media regarding the proposed 2015-17 state budget’s impact on the students they serve.
Altoona School Funding Resolution
Lake Mills Letter to Legislators
Tomah Resolution to Legislators
Wild Rose Letter to Legislators
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
JFC Hearings: Who Plans to Testify?
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 11, 2015
As you know, beginning next week, the Joint Finance Committee plans to hold four public hearings on the Governor’s 2015-17 budget. Those hearings include:
· 10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, March 18 at Brillion High School
· 10 am – 5 pm: Friday, March 20 at Alverno College in Milwaukee
· 10 am – 5 pm: Monday, March 23 at UW Barron County in Rice Lake
· 9:30 am – 4 pm: Thursday, March 26 at the CAL Auditorium in Reedsburg
We have been told by Capitol sources that it is extremely important for administrators, board members and parents to show up at these hearings to advocate strongly on behalf of the children we serve. Those SAA members interested in testifying at one of these four hearings should let me know so I can help to coordinate the arrangements for your testimony. I will follow up with updated talking points. Thanks.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
AB 1 Substitute Amendment Vote Postponed
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 11, 2015
Capitol sources have indicated that the planned vote in the Assembly Education Committee on the substitute amendment to AB 1 has been postponed.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
SAA Position on AB 1 Substitute Amendment
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 11, 2015
As you have probably guessed, the SAA remains opposed to the substitute amendment to AB 1 (accountability) primarily because of the proponents’ support for letter grades, punitive sanctions and multiple assessments for accountability purposes.
Regarding the questions many SAA members have expressed regarding the provision allowing superintendents sole authority over turnaround efforts in low performing schools, we have no idea where the provision came from. It was indeed a surprise to us. Here is our thinking on this provision:
Fracturing the relationship between a superintendent and their governing board is not a recipe for improving schools. In fact, all the evidence suggests that effective school performance occurs where there is a strong relationship between the superintendent and board and each recognizes the legitimate role and responsibility of the other in governance and administration. Having either side overrule the legitimate authority of the other is counterproductive and contributes to poor school performance.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »