4K Continues to Grow in Wisconsin
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 13, 2014
According to DPI, four-year-old kindergarten (4K) continues to grow in Wisconsin with 11 school districts adding programs for the current school year. Statewide 93 percent of public school districts that provide elementary education offer 4K.
Additional information is available in the news release or on the Department of Public Instruction newsroom website.
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SAA Testifies on Charter School Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 10, 2014
The SAA delivered testimony on Assembly Bill 549 relating to statewide independent charter school expansion, during a public hearing held yesterday before the Assembly Committee on Urban Education.
The SAA will likely issue a Legislative Alert on this bill early next week.
Stay tuned.
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Schultz Still Quiet on Reelection Plans
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 3, 2014
GOP state Sen. Dale Schultz says he’s “got a pretty good idea where I’m going” in terms of seeking re-election this fall. But he’s not ready to go into details.
Schultz, R-Richland Center, said last year he would take deer hunting season and the holidays to make a decision on seeking re-election to the seat he first won in a 1991 special election. Schultz told WisPolitics.com Thursday he plans to make an announcement before Feb. 1.
GOP state Rep. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Dem Ernie Wittwer, a semi-retired transportation consultant, have announced plans to seek the seat.
“Now it’s just a matter of putting the pieces in place before I make an announcement,” Schultz said. “I had a lot of time to think this past month, month and a half and have some great conversations. Listened to what a lot of people have said to me. Now it’s just important to get all of the pieces put in place.”
Schultz declined to elaborate further.
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Walker Signs Mascot Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | December 20, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker yesterday signed legislation (AB 297) into law as 2013 Wisconsin Act 115, making it harder to force schools to dump race-based mascots despite his personal support for moving away from nicknames that some find “seriously offensive.”
Walker has sent signals in recent days that he would sign the bill, which overhauls the process for challenging a race-based mascot or nickname. He said today he is concerned about the principle of free speech.
“If the state bans speech that is offensive to some, where does it stop?” Walker said in a release. “A person or persons’ right to speak does not end just because what they say or how they say it is offensive. Instead of trying to legislate free speech, a better alternative is to educate people about how certain phrases and symbols that are used as nicknames and mascots are offensive to many of our fellow citizens. I am willing to assist in that process.”
State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement expressing his disappointment with Walker’s action.
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SAA Testifies on Rural Schools
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | December 19, 2013
SAA Director John Forester presented invited testimony to the Speaker’s Rural Schools Task Force on Tuesday.
See John’s testimony here.
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