Invite Your Legislators to School
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 13, 2012
Have you invited your legislators to school this school year?
The November election has assured a challenging political environment for K-12 education in Madison. Many of you now have new legislators, but even if you don’t, now is a good time to renew your relationships.
It is clear to me that in order to meet the challenges posed by the 2013-15 state budget and the private school voucher advocates, SAA members must enhance their ability to influence their legislators at the grassroots.
The best way to influence your legislators is to develop relationships with them. Each legislator has a “small circle of experts” that they count on for advice on various legislative issues. It is important for you to become one of your legislator’s experts on K-12 education issues. Inviting your legislators to your school is a great way to begin or continue developing this relationship. Use the visit as an opportunity to showcase your school and to let your legislator know that you are an important source of information for them on K-12 education issues. You’ll also have an opportunity to discuss the major issues impacting K-12 education.
If you have not invited your legislators to school yet in 2012-13 school year, take the time to extend that invitation. In fact, make it a point to meet personally with each of your legislators to review key issues at least once a year. It’s a good idea to coordinate these visits with your district’s administrative team.
Remember, the SAA’s success on state legislative issues is, in large part, dependent upon your ability to influence your legislators at the local level.
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Senate Leadership Update
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 9, 2012
On Thursday, November 8, Senate Republicans elected the following leadership team for the 2013-15 session:
Majority Leader: Senator Scott Fitzgerald
Senate President: Senator Mike Ellis
Senate President Pro-Temp: Senator Joe Leibham
Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Glen Grothman
Senate Republican Caucus Chair: Senator Frank Lasee
Senate Republican Vice Caucus Chair: Senator Sheila Harsdorf
On the Democratic side, Senator Mark Miller announced he will be stepping down as leader of the Senate Democratic caucus at the end of the session. Senator Jon Erpenbach said he will seek the position of leader. Senator Chris Larson is actively talking to the members of his caucus about leadership but won’t say whether or not he will seek the position.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Evers To Release 2013-15 Budget Request
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 9, 2012
WHO: State Superintendent Tony Evers
WHAT: News Conference on School Funding
WHEN: 10 to 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 12, 2012
WHERE: Irving Elementary School IMC
10230 West Grant Street
West Allis, WI 53227
State Superintendent Tony Evers will present his framework for reinvesting in Wisconsin’s public schools at a news conference on Monday. The new biennial budget proposal builds upon his proposal from 2010. Several important new, far-reaching initiatives will be announced.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Irving Elementary School in West Allis.
SAA members are encouraged to attend and show support for State Superintendent Evers proposals.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
SAA Members Develop Verbal De-Escalation Training
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | September 25, 2012
You may recall that the SAA played a huge role in the design and passage of 2011 Wisconsin Act 125 on Seclusion and Restraint, and that the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) highlighted Act 125 as a common-sense model for state and federal seclusion and restraint legislation.
As a follow up to Act 125, the SAA is pleased to share with you a training document for teachers on how to de-escalate a tense and potentially dangerous classroom situation in order to reduce, or even eliminate the need for seclusion and restraint in schools.
This Verbal De-escalation training was developed by the Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) Special Projects Committee members Nissan Bar-Lev and Barb Van Haren, and Kendra Stea from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI).
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
WERC’s Davis Presents On Act 10 Court Decision
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | September 24, 2012
At the State Superintendent’s conference on Friday September 21st, Peter Davis, the chief legal council for the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission provided his insight regarding Judge Colas’s Act 10 decision and it’s implications for Wisconsin school administrators. The SAA believes that Davis’s presentation provides valuable information for SAA members.
We have posted a Video of the presentation for your information.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Video Alerts | No Comments »