Bond Referendum Bill Passes Senate
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 15, 2022
In Senate floor action today, Senate Bill 448, regarding including with a referendum question for issuing bonds a statement of the estimated interest accruing on the amount of the bonds, passed on a 20-12 vote. The Assembly companion bill, Assembly Bill 475, has not yet been scheduled for floor action. The SAA strongly opposes this bill.
Please see below the testimony SAA submitted to the Senate committee on the bill, along with a memo from Attorney Allison Buchanan of Quarles & Brady in which she expresses her concerns about the bill from a bond counsel perspective.
Stay tuned.
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State of the State Address Tonight
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 15, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …Gov. Tony Evers will deliver his annual State of the State address tonight in the Assembly chamber as part of a busy day at the Capitol.Evers gave his speech virtually last year during the pandemic, but will appear in person in the Assembly chamber tonight.
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“I’m Calling Your Bonds, and You’re Going to Lose Federal Funding”
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 14, 2022
From the Legal Side . . .
School districts across the nation, and some even right here in Wisconsin, have received threats from community members and special interest groups threatening to “call the bonds” of school board members and administrators if the district refuses to accede to certain demands. In a recent legal update, Attolles Law, S.C. explores this issue and provides suggestions for what a school district should do when it receives such a threat.
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of Attolles Law, S.C. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
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Ramthun Enters Race for Governor
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 14, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …State Rep. Timothy Ramthun’s entrance in the race for governor is set to shake up the GOP primary, but Republican insiders are still questioning to what extent.Ramthun, who has attempted to overturn Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential results, held an event Saturday in Kewaskum formally launching his campaign.“He has gone in a direction that is farther than most others have,” Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Paul Farrow said on WISN’s “UpFront.” The show is produced in cooperation with WisPolitics.com.Added Farrow: “I think there are some challenges to what he is recommending. We’ll continue to watch what happens, but our focus is really in November.”Farrow didn’t specifically support or denounce Ramthun’s entry, noting the party does not endorse candidates during the primary.“There is frustration that’s out there,” Farrow said. “I think Rep. Ramthun and others have looked at that and said, ‘Is there a way that we can create a pathway?'”Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Marine veteran and former U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson and businessman Jonathan Wichmann are also seeking the GOP primary nomination.“As we look at it right now, the candidates are out there talking to everyone across the state to garner their support,” Farrow said. “The party’s responsibility is on Aug. 10. After the primary election is over, we’ll work with whoever comes through the primaries to take on Gov. Evers.”Farrow, though, did respond to Nicholson’s recent comments while both attended a local GOP event in Manitowoc County.“It’s all in the perpetuation of this machine,” Nicholson was recorded saying. “Because if I win, it all changes overnight. Paul Farrow’s not going to be party chair, and I’ll swear by it.”Farrow called Nicholson’s comments referring to the party machine a “misnomer.”“If Kevin’s talking about a machine that’s been successful since 2010 when we had an incredible wave that made changes, not only across the Legislature but all the constitutional offices, then that’s what it is,” Farrow said. “When I talk to people around the state who are Republicans, they’re a little disappointed when he says it’s a machine because it’s grassroots individuals who are out there fighting for what they think is the right thing to do.”Fresh off his Saturday announcement, Ramthun is scheduled to speak at a rally tomorrow seeking to pressure Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to advance the lawmaker’s resolution to rescind Wisconsin’s electoral votes for Joe Biden.Leg Council has opined it isn’t possible to take back the state’s electoral votes.The noon rally is also expected to include GOP state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, according to a schedule organizers sent to supporters.Those who attend the rally are being encouraged to visit the offices of those who sit on the Assembly Rules Committee to call for them to vote out the resolution.See coverage of Saturday’s announcement here.
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Financial Literacy, Other Bills Clear Assembly Committee
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 14, 2022
Several education bills were recommended for passage late last week by the Assembly Education Committee, including a bill requiring one credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation. The results of the committee’s executive session (voting) appears below. The SAA’s position on each bill was added at the end of each bill entry in bold italics. If you should have any questions or comments on any of the SAA positions on these bills, please contact the SAA.
From The Wheeler Report . . .
AB-082 Cardiac Arrest (Allen, Scott) Information about sudden cardiac arrest during youth athletic activities. Sub. 1 withdrawn, . Am. 4 adopted, 12-0. Passage as amended recommended, 12-0. SAA Neutral
SB-238 Hotline Posting (Jacque, Andre) Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. Passage recommended, 12-0. SAA No Position
AB-222 Hotline Posting (Krug, Scott) Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. Passage recommended, 12-0. SAA No Position
AB-562 Gender Identity (Cabral-Guevara, Rachael) Gender identity and sexual orientation programs in public schools. Passage recommended, 8-4. SAA Has Not Yet Taken A Position
AB-854 School Board Authority (Summerfield, Rob) The authority of school boards to approve or deny owner-initiated petitions to detach and attach small territories of school districts and modifying a waiting period that applies to filing multiple petitions. Passage recommended, 8-4. SAA Opposes
AB-903 Gifted and Talented Programs (Petryk, Warren) Programs for gifted and talented pupils. Passage recommended, 8-4. SAA Opposes
AB-893 Teaching Grants (Murphy, Dave) Grants to support the teaching of college courses in high schools and making an appropriation. Am. 1 adopted, 12-0. Passage as amended recommended, 12-0. SAA Supports
AB-899 Financial Literacy (Dallman, Alex) Requiring one credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation. Passage recommended, 8-4. SAA Opposes
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